Game #156 Toronto Blue Jays (90-66) @ Kansas City Royals (78-78) - game recap

Andres Gimenez drove in a pair of runs and scored once in an 8-5 victory over the Royals to clinch a berth into the 2025 MLB postseason

 

After a heartbreaking 2-1 loss thanks to an anemic offence, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 4-game skid and avoid being swept for the 4th time this season. Trey Yesavage 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 Nathan Lukes was in RF. Addison Barger was at the hot corner, Andres Gimenez was at SS and Ernie Clement was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays snap the 4-game skid and avoid being swept for the 4th time this season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Andres Gimenez singled scoring Nathan Lukes
• A batter later, Ernie Clement scored on a sac bunt by Tyler Heineman
• A batter after that, George Springer doubled home Gimenez
• The Royals got a pair back in the bottom of the 4th as Carter Jensen singled scoring Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the top of the 5th as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled scoring Heineman and Daulton Varsho
• A batter later, Asdison Barger doubled scoring Guerrero Jr.
• The Royals got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Garcia singled scoring Yastrzemski
• A batter later, Salvador Perez singled scoring Pasquantino
• Trey Yesavage pitching line: 4IP 5H 4R (all earned) 3BB 2K 76 pitches (44 for strikes)
• Michael Wacha pitching line: 5IP 8H 6R (all earned) 1BB 4K 89 pitches (58 for strikes)
• The Royals got one back in the bottom of the 6th as Randal Grichuk singled scoring Jac Caglianone
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 8th as Clement singled scoring Myles Straw
• A batter later, Gimenez tripled scoring Clement
• Jeff Hoffman threw a scoreless 9th for his 32nd save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 8 Royals 5

My Take:

• Trey Yesavage battled through 4.1 innings, giving up 4 runs on 5 hits while walking 3 and striking out 2. It's incredile that he has managed to pitch at all four levels of baseball, starting in Vancouver way back in April and now making his second big league start today. The Royals did get to him in the 4th inning, but he had an out streak of 10 batters after walking tthe first batter of the day on 5 pitches. No doubt he'll get a solid chance in spring training to make the opening day roster, but getting a taste of the MLB this year will do wonders for his development. I don't see Yesavage on the playoff roster unless Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer are both unable to play due to injury.
• The bullpen gave up a runon 5 hits while walking none and striking out 2 over the last 5 innings. Seranthonny Dominguez and Eric Lauer both retired every batter they faced. For Jeff Hoffman, despite giving up a hit, he looked to be in complete control of the game. The Blue Jays need him to round into form the last week if this squad is going deep in the postseason.
• The bottom of the lineup did the damage with Ernie Clement, Andres Gimenez and Tyler Heineman combining to go 5-11 with 4 runs scored and 4RBI. Also nice to see Vlad contribute with a 2-run double.
• The Blue Jays were 5-13 with runners in scoring position
• With a playoff position clinched, the next task is locking up the AL East, which could come as early as Wednesday or take the whole week. The Blue Jays have the more difficult schedule remaining against the Red Sox, who are fighting for a wild card spot and will be running out their top 3 starters and best lineups. The Rays have had the Blue Jays number all season and would likely relish spoiling the Blue Jays week by denying them the division title. Meanwhile, the Yankees, who are also finishing the season at home, face the White Sox and Orioles. At the 2moment, the Yankees are 2.5 games back of the Blue Jays, but the Blue Jays have the tie breakeer so the division title would go to them if the two teams are tied at the end of the regular season. Surely the Blue Jays would like to clinch earlier in the week so they can start resting some of the players who may be banged up.
• Kudos to the Royals for the nice tribute to broadcaster Buck Martinez, who could retire at the end of the season due to health reasons. He has fought cancer off twice and he may want to enjoy the time he has left to travel and spend valuable time with his family.
• Up next, after an off-day tomorrow, the Blue Jays kick off the final homestand and week of the regular season as they welcome the Red Sox to town. The Blue Jays won 7 of the first 10 games of the season series, outscoring the Red Sox 45-44. Kevin Gausman starts Tuesday against Red Sox righty Lucas Giolito

Game #156 Toronto Blue Jays (89-66) @ Kansas City Royals (78-77)

 

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