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| Davis Schneider hit a 2-run HR in a losing effort as the Orioles swept the double eader by identical 4-2 scores |
After a rainout yesterday, the Blue Jays were looking to sweep the double header and keep their slim playoff hopes alive and avoid their 24th series loss of the season. Max Scherzer started the first game and .CJ Van Eyk was on the bump to start the second game. Brandon Valenzuela was behind the plate in the 1st game and Alejandro Kirk was behind the plate in the second game. Ernie Clement was at 2B in the 1st game (Josh Smith was at 2B in the 2nd game) and at SS in the 2nd game (Andres Gimenez started at SS in the 1st game. Vlad was at 1B in the first game and Sean Keys got the start at 1B in the 2nd game Kazuma Okamoto was at the hot corner in the first game (Charles McAdoo was at the hot corner in the 2nd game) and DH'd the 2nd game (George Springer was DH in the first game of the double header.. Josh Smith was in LF the 1st game and Davis Schneider was in LF the 2nd game. Could the Blue Jays sweep the double header and keep their slim playoff hopes alive? Here is today's/tonight's game recap(s).
Game Highlights (1st game):
- The Orioles opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Jeremiah Jackson singled scoring Christian Encarnacion- Strand
- Three batters later, Colton Cowser scored on a double steal attempt that ended the inning with Jackson being caught in a rundown. Cowser's run counted because he crossed the plate before Jackson was tagged out for the 3rd out
- The Orioles added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 5th as Pete Alonso whacked a 2-run blast to left-center and into the Orioles bullpen; also scoring Dylan Beavers
- Chris Bassitt pitching line: 5IP 7H 2R (both earned) 1BB 2K 90 pitches (60 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays got a pair back in the top of the 6th as Brandon Valenzuela singled scoring Kazuma Okamoto and George Springer. Jackson was charged with a throwing error on the play
- Max Scherzer pitching line: 5IP 4H 4R (all earned) 3BB 7K 93 pitches (60 for strikes
- Andrew Kittridge threw a scoreless 9th for his 11th save of the season
- Final score: Orioles 4 Blue Jays 2
My Take (1st game):
- Max Scherzer battled through 5 innings, giving up 4 runs on 4 hits while walking 3 and striking out 7. Did the legendary Scherzer throw the last pitch of his career? I believe so since Scherzer has achieved virtually everything you can in baseball. He got his world series ring with Washington in 2019, he's reached the top ten in career strikeouts, and he could be 43 years old if the expected lockout erases the entire 2027 year. Not to mention, I don't think Scherzer will care to play in a world where the MLB is constrained by a salary cap. There's no question Scherzer will be inducted into the hall of fame when he's eligible five years after he retires. It's just to bad his last start led to the Blue Jays being officially eliminated from the playoffs. The only thing he hasn't experienced is playing in the Olympics but he won't get the opportunity in 2028. Apparently there's talk of Scherzer maybe playing Sunday with a chance to pass his old teammate Justin Verlander. Maybe show John Schneider Mark Buehrle's last start as a Blue Jay. The veteran lefty started on the final day of the 2015 season to try and reach 200 innings for the 15th consecutive season and he didn't even make it out of the 1st inning. The injury risk alone pitching on shorter rest makes it not worth it. Also, why tarnish his record?
- The bullpen threw 3 scoreless innings, giving up a hit, walking 1 and striking out 3. Jose Rodriguez and Paul Sewald both retired every batter they faced.
- The offense managed 2 runs on an infield hit by Brandon Valenzuela with an extra run scoring due to a bad throw from O's 2B Jeremiah Jackson. As was the case way too often this season, the Blue Jays were unable to take advantage of the opportunities they did get. In the 1st and 2nd innings, the Blue Jays stranded 1-out doubles at 2nd base. They, in fact had double the number of hits (10-5) and half the runs the Orioles produced (4-2)
- The Orioles were 1-1 on ABS challenges and Brandon Valenzuela was unsuccessful on the Blue Jays only ABS challenge
- The Blue Jays were an abysmal 1-14 with runners in scoring position
- In terms of the wild card race, it's over. The Blue Jays are now elimiinated from making the playoffs. The White Sox and Guardians both winning yesterday put the Blue Jays on the brink of elimination, basically needing to win out and for the White Sox and Rangers to lose out.
- Up next, the second game of the double header and final road game of the season where the Blue Jays will be looking to snap the 2 game skid and avoid being swept in a series for the 4th time this season. CJ Van Eyk starts against Orioles righty Trey Gibson
Game Highlights (2nd game):
- The Orioles opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Christian Encarnacion- Strand singled scoring Pete Alonso and Coby Mayo
- A batter later, Colton Cowser doubled home Encarnacion- Strand
- The Orioles added a run in the bottom of the 4th as Encarnacion- Strand smacked a solo blast to left
- CJ Van Eyk pitching line: 5IP 4H 4R (all earned) 0B 2K 84 pitches (57 for strikes)
- Trey Gibson pitching line: 6.2IP 3H 0R 2BB 7K 92 pitches (65 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays got a pair back in the top of the 9th as Dais Schneider whacked a 2-run blast to left; also scoring Sean Keys
- Final score: Orioles 4 Blue Jays 2
My Take (2nd game):
- CJ Van Eyk battled through 5 innings, giving up 4 runs on 5 hits while walking none and striking out 2. At this point, results don't mstter. The goal for the pitchers is just to get the last 81 outs of the season. It's unfortuate Van Eyk gave up three runs in the 1st inning but he's probably at least #10 on the Blue Jays choice to start a game. He'll likely pitch some on Sunday too with how overworked the bullpen was this season.
- The bullpen threw 3 scoreless innings, walking a batter and striking out 3, Chase Lee retired all 5 batters he faced, striking out 3. It'll be interestung to see if any roster moves are made Friday to give the Blue Jays a fresh arm or two for the last 3 games of 2026.
- Nice to see Davis Schneider have some success. He knocked in both runs with a 2-run HR to break up the shutout bid by the O's pitching. He should get into the 3 remaining games
- The Orioles were 1-1 on ABS challenges and Alejandro Kirk was unsuccessful on the Blue Jays only ABS challenge
- The Blue Jays were 0-2 with runners in scoring position
- With the loss, the Blue Jays are guaranteed to finish the season under .500,
- By sweeping the double header, the Orioles lived to fight another day since the Guardians and White Sox both lost today
- Up next, after an off-day/travel day tomorrow, the Blue Jays open the final series of the season as home vs. the Reds. The Blue Jays won the season series last year, outscorinfg the Reds 29-23. Lefty Nick Lodolo will start for the Reds Friday, The Blue Jays haven't set the rotation for the series yet.
