After a blowout loss due to a brutal day for the exhausted bullpen and the offense not producing enough, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 2 game skid, and avoid their 13th season series loss and being swept for the 4th time this season. Max Scherzer got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Myles Straw was in lf, Ernie Clement was at SS and Josh Smith got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays snap the 2 game skid, and avoid their 13th season series loss and being swept for the 4th time this season? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Tigers took the lead in the top of the 1st as Riley Greene singled scoring Colt Keith
- The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom of the 4th on a sac fly by Ernie Clement that scored Kazuma
- Two batters later, Myles Straw singled scoring Josh Smith
- Keider Montero pitching line: 4IP 6H 2R (both earned) 2BB 4K 89 pitches (55 for strikes)
- The Blue jays added a run in the top of the 5th as George Springer singled scoring Brett Bateman
- Max Scherzer pitching line: 5IP 3H 1R (earned) 3BB 3K 73 pitches (44 for strikes)
- The Blue jays added a run in the bottom of the 6th on a throwing error by Tigers SS John Peck on a ball hit by Brandon Valenzuela that scored Clement
- Three batters later, Lukes singled home Valenzuela
- Louis Varland got the last 3 outs for his 34th save of the season
- Final score: Blue Jays 5 Tigers 1
My Take:
- Max Scherzer battled through 5 innings, giving up a run on 3 hits while walking 3 and striking out 3. His main issue today was bearing down to get the last outs. In the 1st inning, he retired the first 2 batters of the game, then coding a run on 2 hits. The next inning, Scherzer walked a batter after recording the first two outs of the inning, but struck out John Peck to end the threat. Scherzer ended the day strong, retiring the last 4 batters he faced. At this point, should the Blue Jays squeak into the playoffs, Scherzer will almost certainly be in the playoffs by default of being able to throw 80-100 pitches. Things will get trickier should the Blue Jays advance to the divisional round, where you need 4 starters.
- The bullpen threw 4 scoreless innings, giving up 4 hits, walking 1 and striking out 3. John Schneider has faced plenty of criticism over his bullpen use, but he went straight to closer Louis Varland the moment the first two hitters reached in the 9th inning. I think he knew how important it was to win today, especially after the Guardians took the series against the White Sox. Also, with the offense day tomorrow, Schneider likely wanted Varland to throw at some point in the series to keep him sharp.
- The offense did a lot better capitalizing with runners in scoring position. It was a team effort with everyone in the lineup except Vlad either scoring a run or driving in s run. Some nice hustle by Brandon Valenzuela forced a bad throw that led to one of the runs
- Brandon Valenzuela was 2-1 on ABS challenges and the Tigers were 1-1 on ABS challenges
- The Blue Jays were 3-12 with runners in scoring position
- In terms of the wild card race, a significant shift occurred today with the Guardians beating the White Sox. With the win, the Guardians overtook the White Sox and lead them by a half game in the AL Central. The Blue Jays sit 1.5 games (really 2 games back since the white Sox hold the tiebreaker over the Blue Jays after winning the season series) of the Chisox for the 3rd WC spot. The Rangers (play later tonight vs. The Red Sox) are also 1.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot for the moment, but will end the night either a game back or 2 games back of the 3rd WC spot depending on if they win or lose. The Orioles (leading their game tonight) are 3 games back of the 3rd WC spot, but will be 2.5 games back if they hold on or 3.5 games back if they lose. The Rangers hold the tiebreaker over the Blue jays. Who gets the all important tiebreaker between the Orioles and Blue Jays will be determined when the two squads meet in Baltimore starting next Monday. The Blue Jays need just one more win to secure the season series win and tiebreaker.
- Up next, after an off-day/travel day tomorrow, the Blue Jays open the final road trip of the regular season in Arlington against the Rangers, who swept the Blue Jays in Toronto back at the end of June, outscoring the Blue Jays 21-15. Ace Dylan Cease will start Friday for the Blue Jays. The Rangers haven't set their rotation for the series yet.
