Game #162 Toronto Blue Jays (73-89) @ Tampa Bay Rays (90-72) - game recap

Jake Bauers was 3-3 with 2RBI and 2 runs scored as the Rays beat the Blue Jays 9-4

Here we are, the final game of the 2018 MLB season. Russell Martin was the unofficial manager, filling out the lineup cards and handling the duties that John Gibbons would normally do. The Blue Jays were looking to give Gibbons a final series win before he rides off into the sunset.. The soon-to-be-ex-Blue Jays manager will almost certainly find employment elsewhere, hopefully in a better situation. Here is a today's game recap.

#162 - Toronto Blue Jays (73-88) at Tampa Bay Rays (89-72)

Sunday, September 30, 2018 | 3:10 pm

Trop's House of Horrors |Tampa, FL

Sam Gaviglio (3-9, 5.19, 1.43) vs. Ryne Stanek (2-3, 3.08, 1.10)

PREAMBLE:

Well, this is it.  The final game of the 2018 season for the Toronto Blue Jays, and the final 'official' managing game as a Jay for John Gibbons, though he's allowing Russell Martin to pull the strings for today's game.

Russell has filled out an interesting lineup card for the game - see lineups at the bottom of game thread.  McKinney batting 3rd?  Pillar leading off?  Sure, why not.

Sam Gaviglio takes the mound as he looks to avoid going to 10 losses for the season, and he'll face Ryne Stanek, who's starting a bullpenning game against the Jays for what seems like the 38th time this season.

Game #161 Toronto Blue Jays (73-88) @ Tampa Bay Rays (89-72) - game recap

Mallex Smith drove in the game winning run in the 7th as the Rays edged the Blue Jays 4-3

This will unofficially be the last game John Gibbons manages for the Blue Jays as he is handing over the reins to catcher Russell Martin on Sunday. Today was a rematch of last Sunday's epic pitcher's duel between Ryan Borucki and Blake Snell. The Blue Jays were looking to get their skipper a series win to end his time in Toronto. Here is today's game recap.

#161 - Toronto Blue Jays (73-87) at Tampa Bay Rays (88-72)

The Gibby Lean will be missed.

Saturday, September 29, 2018 | 6:10 pm

Trop's House of Horrors | Tampa, FL

Ryan Borucki (4-5, 3.76, 1.31) vs. Blake Snell (21-5, 1.90, 0.96)

PREAMBLE:

The penultimate game of the season is here and essentially the final game for John Gibbons as Blue Jays manager as Russ Martin will handle the duties in tomorrow's finale.

The pitching matchup, again, should be a fun one with budding rotation fixture Ryan Borucki taking on Blake Snell as the latter looks to lock up the Cy Young award.  Snell has won nine consecutive starts with a 1.03 ERA in that span - pretty much the ultimate definition of taking control of his fate for the Cy Young.

Game #160 Toronto Blue Jays (73-87) @ Tampa Bay Rays (88-72) - game recap

Randal Grichuk hit a go-ahead triple in the 7th as the Blue Jays edged the Rays 7-6

We have reached the final weekend of the 2018 season. It will be bittersweet in several ways. This series marks the final one with John Gibbons as manager. The Blue Jays traded away one of the last major pieces from that magical 2015 playoff run as Josh Donaldson became an Indian. JA Happ left July 31st for the Yankees. Likely the only remaining players from 2015 on the team next year will be Russell Martin, Aaron Sanchez, Marcus Stroman, Justin Smoak, Kevin Pillar, Devon Travis, Ryan Tepera and Troy Tulowitzki. Here's hoping for a three game sweep to send Gibby off on a positive. Here is today's game recap.