Game #105- Toronto Blue Jays (59-46) @ Minnesota Twins (55-50) - game recap

  

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. drove in a pair and scored a pair in a 9-3 come-from-behind win over the Twins

After dropping the last game of the mini series against the Rays, the Blue Jays were looking to start the series that began in Minnesota tonight with a win. The Twins took 2/3 in Toronto back on June 3-5, but the Blue Jays outscored the Twins 21-20 in that series. Whit Merrifield (apparently newly vaxxed against COVID-19) made his Blue Jays debut tonight in CF. Righty relivers Anthony Bass and Zach Pop were also active tonight and in the bullpen. Catcher Zach Collins, righty Matt Peacock and lefty Matt Gage were all optioned back to AAA-ball in the corresponding moves. George Springer returned to the lineup as DH after missing the last 3 games with a sore elbow. Alek Manoah got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Cavan Biggio was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays start the weekend series with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game #105 Toronto Blue Jays (58-46) @ Minnesota Twins (55-49)

 

Game #104- Toronto Blue Jays (58-46) @ Tampa Bay Rays (55-49) - game recap

 

Teoscar Hernandez drove in both Blue Jays runs and scored one of those runs on a solo shot in a 3-2 loss to the Rays

After a win over the Rays yesterday on the back of 8 shutout innings from Kevin Gausman, the Blue Jays were looking to win their 4th game in a row and sweep their 5th series sweep of the season. Ross Stripling was placed on the 15-day IL with a right hip strain. Righty Mitch White, acquired yesterday from the Dodgers, was optioned to AAA-ball. Righty Matt Peacock was recalled from AAA-ball. Yusei Kikuchi got the start with Danny Jansen behind the plate. George Springer missed his 3rd straight game with an injured elbow. Alejandro Kirk served as DH. Could the Blue Jays win their 4th straight game and sweep their 5th series of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game #104 Toronto Blue Jays (58-45) @ Tampa Bay Rays (54-49)

 

Game #103- Toronto Blue Jays (58-45) @ Tampa Bay Rays (54-49) - game recap

 

Kevin Gausman threw 8 shutout innings in a 3-1 win over the Rays

After an off-day yesterday, the Blue Jays hit the road for a mini 2-game set against the Rays. The Rays have won 5 of the 8 games in the season series thus far and have outscored the Blue Jays 36-30.  The Blue Jays reacquired righty Anthony Bass and righty Zach Pop to assist in the bullprn from the Marlins for prospect Jordan Groshans. Bass was with the Blue Jays in 2020 and was 2-3 with a 3.51ERA in 26 appearances that season. This season, Bass is 2-3 with a 1.41ERA in 45 appearances. Pop is 2-0 with a 3.60ERA in 18 appearances this season. Groshans is batting .247 with 1 HR and 24RBI in 72 games split between A-ball in Dunedin and AAA-ball in Buffalo. He has yet to make his big league debut. The Blue Jays and Royals swapped utility fielders with Whit Merrifield heading north and Samad Taylor heading south. Max Castillo was also thrown in the deal as well. Castillo had a 3.09ERA in 9 appearances (2 starts for the Blue Jays. Taylor was batting .258 with 9HR and 45RBI in 70 games with Buffalo in AAA-ball. Merrifield, who will now need to get vaccinated in order to be eligible to play in Toronto and literally today if he wants to play in the next homestand. He was batting .240 with 6HR and 42RBI over 90 games with KC this season. The Blue Jays also got one final righty for the bullpen, acquiring Mitch White and infielder Alex De Jesus from the Dodgers for righty Nick Frasso and lefty Moises Brito. White was 1-2 with a 3.70ERA in 15 appearances (10 starts). De Jesus is batting .272 with 11HR and 48RBI in 87 games split between Rancho Cucamonga (A-ball) and Great Lakes (A+-ball) this season. Frasso has a sparkling 0.74ERA in 10 starts split between Dunedin (A-ball) and Vancouver (High-A-ball). Brito was 2-4 with a 1.86ERA in 12 appearances (2 starts) for the Blue Jays Dominican summer league team. Righty Jeremy Beasley was traded to the Pirates for cash considerations. Beasley had a 4.80ERA in 9 appearances for the Blue Jays this season. Lefty Andrew Vasquez was claimed off waivers by the Phillies. Vasquez has been rehabbing an ankle sprain for the past month, but was nearing ready to return. He had a brutal 8.10ERA in 9 appearances this season.

Now onto today's game. Lefty Anthony Banda was DFA'd. Lefty Matt Gage was recalled from AAA-ball. Kevin Gausman got the start tonight with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. George Springer missed his second straight game with a sore elbow. Raimel Tapia took his spot in CF. Santaigo Espinal was back at 2B after having Sunday off. Danny Jansen served as DH. Could the Blue Jays make it three straight wins? Here is tonight's game recap.