Game #77 - Toronto Blue Jays (38-39) @ Chicago Cubs (40-37) - game recap

 

Kazuma Okamoto hit a 3-run HR to lift the Blue Jays to an 8-6 comeback win over the Cubs

After a blowout loss thanks to a brutal day for the pitchers and only George Springer doing anything offensively, the Blue Jays were looking to even the series and avoid their 11th series loss and 8th season series loss of the season. Daulton Varsho was reinstated from the 10-day IL and Charles McAdoo was optioned to AAA-ball. Righty Lazaro Estrada was reinstated from the 60-day IL and lefty Brendon Little was optioned back to AAA-ball. Patrick Corbin got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Myles Straw was in LF, Varsho was in CF and Nathan Lukes was in RF. Could the Blue Jays even the series and avoid their 11th series loss and 8th season series loss of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Cubs opened the scoring in unge bottom of the 2nd as Matt Shaw whacked a 3-run blast to left; also scoring Alex Bregman and Ian Happ
• Patrick Corbin pitching line: 3.2IP 6H 3R (all earned) 3BB 4K 101 pitches (57 for strikes)
• Colin Rea pitching line: 5.1IP 3H 0R 0BB 3K 78 pitches (50 for strikes)
• The Cubs added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 6th as Pete Crow- Armstrong belted a 2-run jack to right; also scoring Dansby Swanson
• The Blue jays got 3 back in the top of the 7th as Daulton Varsho hammered a 3-run bomb to right; also scoring Vladimir Gurrero Jr. and Kazuma Okamoto
• The Blue jays got one back in the top of the 8th as Alejandro Kirk singled scoring Myles Straw 
• A batter later, Guerrero Jr. singled home Springer
• Two batters later, Okamoto smacked a 3-run blast to left; also scoring Guerrero Jr and Yohendrick Pinago 
• Louis Varland got the last 6 outs for his 15th save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 8 Cubs 6
• The Cubs got one back in the button half of the inning on a fielder's choice hit by Nico Hoerner that scored Miguel Amaya
• 
  

My Take:

• Patrick Corbin battled through 3.2 innings, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits while walking 3 and striking out 4. Not a real efficient start for Corbin as he needed 101 pitches to get 11 outs. With Shane Bieber set to return to the rotation, it is likely his last start in a Blue Jays uniform. 
• The bullpen gave up 3 runs on 3 hits while walking 4 and striking out 3 over the last 5.1 innings. Louis Varland did a great job in getting the last 6 outs and limiting the damage to one run when Mason Fluharty left him with a bases loaded nobody out mess in the 8th where the Cubs could have taken the lead right back with one swing.. His only blemish was an error on a rushed throw in the 9th.
• The offense came to life in a big way in the 7th and 8th inning, scoring 8 runs on 6 hits and a hit batter. Daulton Varsho got things started with a rocket to right for 3 runs and Japanese rookie Kazuma Okamoto also went deep for 3 runs to give the Blue Jays the lead. In between, Vlad and Alejandro Kirk had clutch RBI base hits.
• Every Blue Jays starter except Davis Schneider and Nathan Lukes had a  hit
• The Cubs were 5-1 on ABS challenges and Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya successfully overturned an impressive 4 ABS challenges. Brandon Valenzuela was unsuccessul on the Blue Jays only ABS challenge on the day.
• The Blue Jays were 4-7 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, weather permitting, the Blue Jays go for 2 straight wins and to notch their 11th series win and 4th season series win of the season. Dylan Cease starts against Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga

World Series game 7 - LA Dodgers (4-3) @ Toronto Blue Jays (3-4) - game recap.

 

Bo Bichette hit a 3-run HR in a losing effort as the Dodgers came from behind to edge the Blue Jays in 11 innings

After dropping yesterday's game due to a dormant offence and horrible base running error by Addison Barger, the Blue Jays were looking to secure their 3rd world series title. Max Scherzer got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. The rest of the lineup is the same as yesterday. Could the Blue Jays secure their 3rd world series title or will we get back-to-back champions for the first time since

Game Highlights:

• The Blue jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd as Bo Bichette hammered a 3-run bomb off the basing of the 2nd deck in dead center; also scoring George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 
• Shohei Ohtani pitching line: 2.1IP 5H 3R (all earned) 2BB 3K 51 pitches (31 for strikes) 
• The Dodgers got one back in the top of the 4th on a sac fly by Teoscar Hernandez that scored will Smith
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 4.1IP 4H 1R (earned) 1BB 3K 54 pitches (34 for strikes)
• The Dodgers got one back in the top of the 6th on a sac fly by Tommy Edman that scored Mookie Betts
• The Blue jays added a run in the bottom half of the inning as Andres Gimenez doubled scoring Ernie Clement 
• The Dodgers got one back in the top of the 8th as Max Muncy hammered a solo bomb off the basing of the 3rd deck-
• The Dodgers tied it in the top of the 9th as Miguel Rojas whacked a solo blast to left
• The Dodgers took the lead in the top of the 11th as Will Smith whacked a solo blast to left
• Final score: Dodgers 4 Blue Jays 3 (11 innings)

My Take:

• Max Scherzer battled through 4.1 innings, giving up a run on 3 hits while walking 1 and striking out 3. The future hall of famer gave one last strong start, giving what is likely his final team a chance to win. You couldn't have asked for more out of Scherzer
• The bullpen gave up 4 runs on 7 hits while walking 4 and striking out 2 over the last 5.2 innings. The relievers gave up 3 long balls, something that has been a problem all season. The team needs to address this in the off-season. They also need to figure out if Hoffman will be the closer going forward. He blew 7 saves in the regular season and the one tonight. He had 33 saves in the regular season, but he gave up the most home runs by a reliever
• Bo Bichette had a great game in what might have been his last in a Blue Jays uniform as he hits free agency. Bichette went deep to put the Blue Jays up by three and got a single with one out in the 9th. No doubt he will be paid handsomly after a strong regular season and some clutch hits in the World Series ala Kirk Gibson. Will be interesting to see if he goes back to SS or stays at 2B going forward.
• Ernie Clement also capped off a fine postseason with a couple of more hits to break the record for most hits in a single postseason.
• At the end of the day, the Blue Jays had chances to extend the lead and even walk it off in the 9th, but they couldn't get that extra run. They were 3-17 with runners in scoring position. 
• The Dodgers became the first team to win back to back championships since the Yankees three-peat 1998-2000.
• Up next, the off-season where the biggest priority will be trying to re-sign Bo Bichette.

Game #46 Detroit Tigers (31-16) @ Toronto Blue Jays (22-24) - game recap

 

Alejamdro Kirk drove in a run in a 3-2 loss to the Tigers

After a huge comeback win thanks to fine work from the bullpen and some offensive heroics from Ernie Clement who scored one run and drove in the other, the Blue Jays were going for 2 straight wins, trying to get back to .500 and notch their 6th series win of the season. Ace Jose Berrios was on the bump with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Anthony Santander was back in the lineup as DH after missing a couple of days with minor ailmentsm in his hip and shoulder. Vlad was back in the field after the half day off as DH yesterday. Jonatan Clase was in LF and Nathan Lukes was in RF. Ernie Clement got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays make it 2 straight wins, get back to .500 and notch their 6th series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Tigers opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Spencer Torkelson doubled scoring  Kerry Carpenter and Zach McKinstry
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 4th as Alejandro Kirk singled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• Three batters later, Ernie Clement singled scoring Daulton Varsho
• Jose Berrios pitching line: 6IP 8H 2R (both earned) 1BB 4K 83 pitches (55 for strikes)
• Jackson Jobe pitching line: 6IP6H 2R (both earned) 2BB 5K 90 pitches (52 for strikes)
• The Tigers took the lead in the top of the 7th as Torkelson singled scoring Gleyber Torres
• Will Vest pitched a scoreless 9th for his 5th save of the season
• Final score: Tigers 3 Blue Jays 2

My Take:

• Jose Berrios battled through 6 innings, giving up a paitr of runs on 6 hits whie walking 1 and striking out 4. Berrios pitched his way in and out of jams all afternoon, but only gave up runs in the 1st inning. With a scheduled bullpen day the day before, it puts pressure on Berrios to get deeper into the next game to save the bullpen.
• The bullpen gave up a run on 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2 over the last 3 innings. None of the relievers retired every batter they faced.
• Kudos to the offense to tying the game when they were in a 2-0 deficit. The Blue Jays weren't able to get the tying run home and they had at least one base runner in each of the last 3 innings.
• The Blue Jays were 2-12 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, after an off-day yesterday, the Blue Jays continue the home stand against the Padres. The Blue Jays won the season series last year, outscoring the Padres 13-9. Neither team has set their rotation for the series yet.

Game #20 - Toronto Blue Jays (12-8) @ New York Yankees (12-8) - game recap

 

Brandon Belt drove in 4 runs and scored one himself in a 6-1 victory over the Yankees

After an off-day yesterday, the Blue Jays opened a weekend series against the Yankees at Yankees Stadiium. Last season, the Yankees won the season series 11-8, outscoring the Blue Jays 83-63. Yusei Kikuchi got the start with Danny Jansen behind the plate. George Springer was back in the field after DH'ing Wednesday. Vlad got the half day off tonight as DH with Brandon Belt at 1B. Cavan Biggio got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays start the weekend with a win? Here is tonight's game recap?

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bashed a 2-run blast to left-center; also scoring George Springer 
• The Yankees got one back in the bottom of the 2nd as Oswaldo Cabrera smacked an opposite field solo jack to right 
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the top of the 6th as Brandon Belt belted a 2-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Daulton Varsho
• Domingo German pitching line: 6IP 5H 4R (all earned) 2BB 6K 91 pitches (57 for strikes)
• Yusei Kikuchi pitching line: 6IP 4H 1R (earned) 2BB 3K 90 pitches (54 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the top of the 8th as Belt doubled scoring Bo Bichette and Guerrero Jr.
• Final score: Blue Jays 6 Yankees 1

My Take:

• Yusei Kikuchi had another strong start, firing 6 innings, giving up a run on 4 hits while walking 2 and striking out 3. He would like to have the pitch he threw to Oswalso Cabrera that went over the short porch in right, but other than that he was solid. Kikuchi retired the final 4 batters he faced.
• The bullpen gave up just one hit while walking none and striking out 4 over the final 3 innings
• Offensively, it was the Brandon Belt and Vlad show tonight. Vlad got things started in the 1st inning by hammering a 2-run bomb into the Blue Jays bullpen. Belt drove in the other 4 runs, scoring one himself on a 2-run shot, his first in a Blue Jays uniform
• The Blue Jays tightened things up and made sure they were in the batter's box on time (on Wednesday, they were called for 3 pitch count violations)
• Up next, the Blue Jays go for their second straight win and 5th series win of the season. It will be a battle of the aces with Alek Manoah pitching against Yankees righty Gerritt Cole

8 days till opening day.

Friday Night Baseball no longer free, returns to Apple TV+ on April 7 pic.twitter.com/GFrfIjHSnZ

— HamacaSoft  (@hamacasoft) March 22, 2023

The previous post was getting large so here's a new one.

As noted above Apple TV's Friday night baseball is no longer free  to view. You're going to need a subscription.

Of note, the Jays are scheduled on Apple TV for Friday April 21 vs the Yankees and on Friday May 19 at home vs the O's. You can read more here.

I think this Link is pretty close to having the opening day line up.

MLBTR link has a breakdown of all the teams in the ALE and the changes to each team.

Good luck to everyone in the Jith fantasy league.