Game #147 Baltimore Orioles (69-78) @ Toronto Blue Jays (85-62) - game recap

 

Daulton Varsho drove in a pair and scored once in a 6-1 comeback win over the Orioles

After a win yesterday thanks to a complete game gem, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games as they welcomed the Orioles, who won the first 6 games of the season series, outscoring the Blue Jays 73-48. Chris Bassitt got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Ty France at 1B. Myles Straw was in CF and George Springer was in RF. Ernie Clement was at the hot corner, Ernie Clement was at SS and IKF was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games.

Game Highlights:

• The Orioles opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd as Jackson Holliday singled scored Samuel Basallo
• The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom of the 5th as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled scoring Davis Schneider. Orioles CF Colton Cowser was charged with a fielding error on the play
• Chris Bassitt pitching line: 5IP 2H 1R (earned) 1BB 6K 75 pitches (44 for strikes)
• Trevor Rogers pitching line: 5IP 3H (unearned) 4BB 6K 79 pitches (50 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Myles Straw doubled scoring IKF
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 7th as Ernie Clement singled scoring George Springer
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 8th as Daulton Varsho doubled scoring Straw and Springer
• A batter later, Guerrero Jr. singled home Varsho. Guerrero Jr, was thrown out at 2B on the play.
• Final score: Blue Jays 6 Orioles 1

My Take:

• Chris Bassitt battled through 5 innings, giving up a run on 2 hits, while walking 1 and striking out 6. Bassitt retired 5 of the first 6 batters he faced and the last 8 batters in a row. Unfortunately he couldn;t continue after the 5th inning due to his back tightening up on him. Bassit could be the odd man out of the playoff rotation.
• After a complete day off yesterday, the bullpen pitched 4 scoreless innings, giving up a hit, walking 3 and striking out 3. Brayden Fisher was credited with the win. Louis Varland and Brandon Little retired every batter they faced.
• Offensively, Daulton Varsho (2RBI, run scored), George Springer (2 runs scored) and Myles Straw (RBI, run scored) led the way.
• The Blue Jays were 4-10 with runners in scoring position
• The comeback kids did it again! The Blue Jays notched their 44th comeback win of the season. They have a chance of matching the franchise record, 50 comeback wins, set by the 1987 team. the 1992 and 1993 world series winning teams had 40 and 44 comeback wins respectively.
• Standings wise, the Red Sox dropped to 4.5 game back with their loss to the Yankees, who remain 3 games back of the Blue Jays for 1st in the AL East. The Blue Jays are also a game up on the Tigers for best record in the AL and home field advantage through the ALCS.
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 27th series win of the season. Max Scherzer starts against Orioles righty Tomoyuki Sugano

Game #147 Baltimore Orioles (69-77) v. Toronto Blue Jays (84-62)

 

Game #146 Houston Astros (79-68) @ Toronto Blue Jays (84-62) - game recap

 

Kevin Gausman threw a complete game two-hitter in a 6-0 shutout win over the Astros

After a late-game comeback fell short, the Blue Jays were looking to notch their 26th series win of the season. Alek Manoah was reinstated from the 60-day-IL and Orlevis Martinez, who missed a good chunk of the season after testing positive for taking a banned substance, was DFA'd. Kevin Gausman got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Davis Scheider was in LF. Could the Blue Jays notch their 26th series win of the season? Here is todays game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Nathan Lukes doubled scoring George Springer
• Two batters later, Addison Barger doubled home Lukes
• The Blue Jays added a run in the botttom of the 2nd as Davis Schneider whacked a solo blast to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen
• The Blue Jays added a run by Davis that scored Daulton Varsho
• Cristian Javier pitching line: 6IP 6H 4R (all earned) 1BB 6K 87 pitches (67 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 8th on a sac fly by Barger that scored Springer. Astros RF Jesus Sanchez was charged with a fielding error on the play.
• Two batters later, Varsho singled scoring Lukes
• Kevin Gausman pitching line: 9IP 2H 0R 1BB 9K 100 pitches (79 for strikes)
• Final score: Blue Jays 6 Astros 0

My Take:

• Kevin Gausman was masterful in pitching the first complete game of the season for the Blue Jays and 27th on the season in the MLB, giving up 2 hits, walking 1 and striking out 9 and he did it all in 100 pitches, throwing just 21 balls. Just a phenomenol performance and Gausman seems to be getting hot at the right time with the playoffs just around the corner. More importantly, he gave the bullpen a much needed day off when the next off-day isn't until September 22nd.
• If anyone is happy for a day off, it is Jeff Hoffman, who has been struggling at the wrong time.
• Offensively, Davis Schneider (2 RBI, including a solo HR), Nathan Lukes (2 runs scored, RBI), Addison Barger (2RBI), George Springer (2 runs scored) and Daulton Varsho (run scored, RBI) led the way 
• The Blue Jays were 2-8 with runners in scoring position
• The Yankees won their game to remain 3 games back of the Blue Jays for 1st in the AL Eastm while the idle Blue Jays fell to 3.5 games back of first in the AL East
• Up next, the Blue Jays finish off the season series with the Orioles, who won 6 of the first 10 games in the season series, outscoring the Blue Jays 73-48. Chris Bassitt starts against Orioles lefty Trevor Rogers

Game #146 Houston Astros (79-67) v. Toronto Blue Jays (83-62)

 

Game #145 Houston Astros (79-67) @ Toronto Blue Jays (83-62) - game recap

 

Nathan Lukes drove in a run in a 3-2 loss to the Astros

After another late game come back, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 26th series win of the season. Ace Jose Berrios got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. The rest of the lineup was the same as yesterday's win. Could the Blue Jays make it 2 straight wins and notch their 26th series win of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Astros opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Yainer Diaz doubled scoring Jesus Sanchez
• The Astros added a run in the top of the 6th as Carlos Correa whacked a solo blast to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen. It was the 200th career HR for Correa
• Jose Berrios pitching line: 5.1IP 5H 2R (both earned) 1BB 4K 81 pitches (51 for strikes)
• Jason Alexander pitching line: 7IP 3H 0R 1BB 3K 89 pitches (56 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 8th as Andres Gimenez singled scoring IKF
• Two batters later, Nathan Lukes singled scoring Myles Straw
• The Astros retook the lead in the top of the 9th as Diaz belted a solo jack to left-center
• Bryan Abreu pitched a perfect 9th for his 5th save of the season
• Final score: Astros 3 Blue Jaays 2

My Take:

• Jose Berrios rebounded and fired 5.1 innings, giving up a pair of runs on 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 4. Berrios could be the odd man out of the playoff rotation. Certainly the next few starts for all will deterimine, assuming Max Scherzer's health holds up, who is in the 4-man rotation and who will join Eric Lauer in the bullpen
• The bullpen gave up a run on 2 hits while walking 3 and striking out 3. There has to be concern about Jeff Hoffman, who took the loss after giving up a home run right after the Blue Jays clawed back from a 2-run deficit. So many fans want Hoffman not to be the closer come playoff time and for good reason. His ERA is over 4.50 (which would be last among the teams likely making the playoffs, he has blown 7 saves (second in the MLB), and he is  tied for being the reliever to give up the most home runs. At this point, I would use him in the 9th at home of a tied game. It's going to be hard to come back against some of the game's elite closers, which the Blue Jays would be facing in the playoffs.
• Offensively, the team didn't do much through 7 innings, managing just 3 hits and a walk off the Astros starter Jason Alexander. It was good to see them put together a 2-run rally in the 8th thanks to RBI singles off the bats of Andres Gimenez and Nathan Lukes. However, the soon-to-be highest paid Blue Jay Vlad grounded out to kill the rally. The scrutiny on the Blue Jays star, especially when he fails to deliver in these important game situations, will only get stronger when his half a billion deal kicks in next year, and if his best buddy Bo Bichette leaves in free agency.
• Standings wise, the Blue Jays squandered a chance to gain a game on the Yankees and Red Sox, who both have easier schedules the rest of the way. With the flaws in the bullpen, the Blue Jays will want to avoid a best-of-3 wild card series, a format that has not been kind to the Blue Jays, who have not won a single game since that format came into play back in 2022.
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to notch their 26th series win of the season. Kevin Gausman starts against Astros righty Javier Cristian.