Game #155 Toronto Blue Jays (89-66) @ Kansas City Royals (78-77) - game recap

 

Daulton Varsho hit a solo home run in a 2-1 loss to the Royals

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After a shellacking thanks to some brutal pitching from Max Scherzer, who couldn't get out of the first inning, and position pitcher/backup catcher Tyler Heineman, who allowed half of the 20 runs against, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 3-game skid, avoid their 16th series loss, 8th season series loss and clinch a postseason berth. Chris Bassitt was placed on the 15-day IL with a lower back strain and Mason Fluharty was recalled from AAA-ball. Shane Bieber 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 LF and George Springer was in RF. IKF was at the hot corner. Ernie Clement was at SS and Davis Schneider got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays snap the 3-game skid, avoid their 16th series loss, 8th season series loss and clinch a postseason berth? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Royals opened the scoring in the bottom of the 4th as Bobby Witt Jr. hammered a solo bomb to dead center
• A batter later, Vinnie Pasquantino whacked a solo blast to right-center 
• The Blue jays got one back in the top of the 7th as Daulton Varsho belted a solo jack to straightaway center
• Noah Cameron pitching line: 6.2IP 3H 1R (earned) 2BB 5K 98 pitches (62 for strikes)
• Shane Bieber pitching line: 6.1IP 4H 2R (both earned) 1BB 4K 87 pitches (58 for strikes)
• Carlos Estevez pitched a scoreless 9th for his 41st save of the season
• Final score: Royals 2 Blue Jays 1

My Take:

• Shane Bieber fired 6.1 innings,  giving up a pair of runs on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 4. Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino hit back to back jacks, which turned out to be the difference in the game. Bieber retired nine of the first tend batters he faced and is pitching his way to being the game 1 option of a playoff series. 
• The bullpen threw 1.2 scoreless innings. Kudos to Mason Fluharty for baring down and recording 2 outs after the bases were loaded thanks to the infield screwing up what should have been an inning-ending DP and Fluharty hitting a batter. Jeff Hoffman also managed to pitch a scoreless inning despite the fact every fan was likely screaming at their tv and holding their collective breaths since traditionally, Hoffman has not thrived in non-save situations (mind you he hasn't thrived in save situations lately either.)
• The offence is picking a horrible time to slump. One run won't cut it in the playoffs. That said it was nice to see Daulton Varsho go deep against a lefty since he is the better defender in CF. The Blue Jays will likely be sending out the lineup that'll give them the best chance to clinch  tomorrow and after that, you may start seeing guys like Vladdy get a full day off.
• The Blue Jays were 0-1 with runners in scoring position
• So the Blue Jays missed a golden opportunity to clinch tonight with the Tigers having lost before the first pitch was thrown in tonight's game. The Red Sox and Yankees both gained a game on the Blue Jays with the loss, putting the Yankees just 2 games baack of the Blue Jays (really 3 games since the Blue Jays have the tiebreaker having clinched the season series against the Yankees) and the Red Sox are 5 games back. The red hot Guardians could be in play for best AL record as they sit just one game back of the Tigers in the AL Central. It's crucial for the Blue Jays to get a bye to give some of their banged up players a few days to rest and also set up the playoff rotation.
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 4-game skid and avoid being swept for the 4th time. Trey Yesavage starts against Royals righty Michael Wacha

Game #155 Toronto Blue Jays (89-65) @ Kansas City Royals (77-77)

 

Game #154 Toronto Blue Jays (89-65) @ Kansas City Royals (77-77) - game recap

George Springer hit a leadoff home run in a losing effort as the Royals came dob behind to rout the Blue Jays 20-1

After another loss thanks to the inept offence, the Blue Jays made their final road stop of the season against the Royals, who took the series in Toronto back on the BC Day long weekend, outscoring the Blue Jays 18-11. Max Scherzer got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. The rest of the lineup was the same as yesterday's shutout loss. Could the Blue Jays snap the 2-game skid and start the last road series and last weekend of summer with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as George Springer led off the game with a solo jack to left-center
• The Royals tied it in the bottom half of the inning as Bobby Witt Jr. singled scoring Carter Jensen
• A batter later, Vinny Pasquantino doubled scoring Witt Jr.
• A batter after that, Pete Walker was ejected for arguing balls and strikes
• A batter later, Salvador Perez whacked a 3-run blast to the opposite field in right-center
• Three batters later, Michael Massey smashed a 2-run blast to right; also scoring Adam Frazier
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 0.2IP 7H 7R (all earned) 1BB 2K 45 pitches (30 for strikes)
• The Royals added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 3rd as Jensen doubled scoring Jac Caglianone and Massey
• Two batters later, Pasquantino singled home Jensen
• John Schneider was ejected from the game in the bottom of the 6th for arguing balls and strikes
• Michael Lorenzen pitching line: 7.2IP 3H 1R (earned) 3BB 4K 113 pitches (71 for strikes)
• The Royals added a run in the bottom of the 7th as Luke Maile singled scoring Jonathan India
• Two batters later, Caglianone smacked a 3-run blast to right-center; also scoring Maile and Tyler Tolbert
• The Royals added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 8th as Maile doubled scoring India and Randal Grichuk
• A batter later, Frazier singled scoring Tolbert
• A batter after that, Caglianone singled scoring Maile
• A batter later, Massey singled scoring Frazier
• A batter later, John Rave singled home Caglianone.
• Final score: Royals 20 Blue Jays 1

My Take:

• Max Scherzer was lit up to the tune of 7 runs on 7 hits while walking 1 and striking out 2. There has to be big concerns about the health of Scherzer, who coudn't even get out of the 1st inning tonight. His back has been bothering him for a while. At this point, I would shut him down with just one start left and let him rest. You have to wonder if he'll follow Clayton Kershaw into retirement with the way his season is ending.
• The bullpen was even worse, getting lit up for 13 runs on 20 hits while walking 4 and striking out 4 over 7.2 innings. To be fair, ten of the runs and 13 of the hits were off position player/backup catcher Tyler Heineman, who has an ungodly 32.40ERA this season. Brandon Little and IKF both retired every batter they faced.
• George Springer hit a leadoff home run and the offence took the rest of the night off. It is starting to get concerning that the bats have gone ice cold with the season winding down. Bo Bichette won't be able to get any rehab games in since the minor league season is now over. At least Anthony Santander was able to play some rehab games.
• The Blue Jays were 0-0 with runners in scoring position and that is not a typo. Not one baserunner reached second base.
• Standings wise, the Yankees and Tigers both lost, keeping the Yankees 3 games back of the Blue Jays for 1st in the AL East and the Blue Jays 4 games ahead of the Tigers for best record in the AL and home field advantage through the ALCS.
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 3-game skid and avoid their 16th series loss and 8th season series loss of the season. Shane Bieber starts against Royals lefty Noah Cameron

Game #154 Toronto Blue Jays (89-64) @ Kansas City Royals (76-77)

 

Game #153 Toronto Blue Jays (89-64) @ Tampa Bay Rays (75-78) - game recap

 

Ernie Clement hit a double in a 4-0 shutout loss to the Rays

After a heartbreaking loss that ended the opportunity for the 1st 100 win season, the Blue Jays were looking to notch their 27th series win (1st series win against the Rays) and avoid their 8th season series loss of the season. Chris Bassitt got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday (George Springer served as DH today). Davis Schneider was in LF and Daulton Varsho was in CF. Could the Blue Jays notch their 27th series win (1st series win against the Rays) and avoid their 8th season series loss of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Rays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Chandler Simpson singled scoring Hunter Feduccia and Carson Williams
• A batter later Brandon Lowe singled scoring Bob Seymour 
• Chris Bassitt pitching line: 4.1IP 8H 3R (all earned) 2BB 3K 89 pitches (54 for strikes)
• Shane Baz pitching line: 5IP 2H 0R 1BB 4K 74 pitches (50 for strikes)
• The Rays added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Williams belted a solo jack to left
• Final score: Rays 4 Blue Jays 0

My Take:

• Chris Bassitt battled through 4.1 innings, giving up 3 runs on 8 hits while walking 2 and striking out 3. While he will likely be in the playoff rotation, there has to be concern about his struggles in getting through innings efficiently. He was already at 50 pitches in the 2nd inning. He'll be facing better lineups in the playoffs that'll make him pay for bad pitches.
• The bullpen gave up a run on 3 hits while walking 1 and striking out 3 over the last 3.2 innings. Brayden Fisher retired every batter he faced.
• Not much to say about the offence who failed to get a runner into scoring position until the 8th inning and managed a measley 3 base runners against Rays starter Shane Baz.
• The Blue Jays were 0-3 with runners in scoring position
• The Red Sox are pretty much out of the race of 1st in the AL East - they are 6 games back of the Blue Jays for 1st in the AL East. The Yankees, who play later tonight, can get within 3 games of 1st in the AL East.
• Up next, the Blue Jays head to Kansas City for the final road series of the season. The Royals won the series in Toronto 6 weeks ago, outscoring the Blue Jays 18-11. Max Scherzer starts against Royals righty Michael Lorenzen