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| -Nathan Lukes drove in 2 runs and scored twice in a 7-2 win over the Rangers |
After another loss due to a subpar start from Jose Soriano, the Blue Jay were looking to snap the 2 game skid and avoid being swept for the 4th time and 1st time in a season series. It was bullpen day (again) with Spencer Miles getting the start and Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Josh Smith was in LF and Ernie Clement was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays snap the 2 game skid and avoid being swept for the 4th time and 1st time in a season series? Here is today's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st on a sac fly by Nathan Lukes that scored Brett Bateman
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 3rd as Sean Keys doubled scoring Lukes
- Spencer Miles pitching line: 3IP 2H 0R 0BB 4K 46 pitches (30 for strikes)
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was removed from the game prior to the bottom of the 4th with left lower back tightness
- The Rangers tied it in the bottom of the 4th as Jake Burger whacked a 2-run blast to left-center; also scoring Ezequiel Duran
- The Blue Jays retook the lead in the top of the 5th as Kazuma Okamoto singled scoring Bateman
- Jacob deGrom pitching line: 4.1IP 5H 3R (all earned) 4BB 2K 82 pitches (53 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 7th as Lukes singled scoring Bateman
- Three batters later, Charles McAdoo doubled scoring Myles Straw and Lukes
- A batter later, Andres Gimenez singled home McAdoo
- Final score: Blue Jays 7 Rangers 2
My Take:
- Spencer Miles did exactly what the Blue Jays needed him to do - make it through 3 innings. He gave up 2 hits, walked none and struck out 4. He has been the most invaluable pitcher and certainly stretching him out as a starter could be a viable option for him next season. Miles will be needed 2-3 more times in bullpen days with news that Dylan Cease will not make his scheduled start Wednesday in Baltimore with his shoulder not feeling right. Trey Yesavage will also be able to help some too, but the team won't push him either with just days left in the season.
- The rest of the bullpen gave up 2 runs on 5 hits while walking 4 and striking out 3 over the last 6 innings. The already exhausted bullpen is going to have to get a lot more outs with Cease now at least being pushed back and likely done for the year, especially if the Blue Jays are all but eliminated from the playoffs by Wednesday or Thursday. Paul Sewald retired every batter he faced
- Offensively, the Blue Jays strung together a 4-run rally in the 7th inning to put this game out of reach. Nathan Lukes (2 runs scored, 2RBI), Charles McAdoo (2 run double) and Kazuma Okamoto (knocked in the game-winning run) led the way. Depending on the health of Vlad, George Springer and Andres Gimenez - McAdoo, Davis Schneider and Straw might get some playing time in these important games this week. Obviously Vlad will want to play if at all possible.
- The Rangers were successful in their only ABS challenge and the Blue Jays were unsuccessful in their only ABS challenge.
- The Blue Jays were 4-13 with runners in scoring position
- In terms of the wild card race, the Blue Jays stayed alive with the win. They remain 3 (technically 4 since the White Sox hold the tiebreaker over the Blue Jays) games back of the 3rd WC spot since the White Sox won their game. The White Sox remain a game back of the Guardians for the AL Central division title since the Guardians won their game. The Astros (lost today) are also 3 back of the White Sox (tiebreaker still to be determined between the Astros and Blue Jays) and one game back of the Rangers for the AL West title (Astros have the tiebbreaker over the Rangers). The Orioles (currently losing) are 4.5 games back of the final WC spot for the moment and will fall back to 5 games back if the score holds or be 4 games back if they comeback and beay Milwaukee.
- Up next, the Blue Jays travel to Baltimore for the final road series of the season. Implications for the series are huge. The Blue Jays have won 6 of the first 10 games in the season series with the Orioles outscoring the Blue Jays 53-52. One win by the Blue Jays secures the season series win and the tiebreaker over the Orioles. However, if the Orioles sweep the series (and they'll have plenty of incentive to do so to either keep their slim playoff hopes alive or deal a serious blow to the chances of a fierce division rival), they could overtake the Blue Jays in the wild card race. The Astros, Rangers, Guardians and White Sox are all idle tomorrow so a win would be a free half game gain in the wild card standings. Trey Yesavage is expected to come off the IL and start for the Blue Jays. Max Scherzer starts against Orioles righty and ex-Blue Jay starter Chris Bassitt (a battle of fantasy football commissioners too!)
