Article: Blue Jays Week in Review: The streaks have ended, but hope is not lost.

[Mike LeSage]

Weekly Snapshot: Mon, 7/7 through Sun, 7/13
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Record Last Week: 3-3 (Overall: 55-41)
Run Differential Last Week: +5 (Overall: +17)
Standings: First Place in AL East (+2.0 games up), Third in AL (WC occupied by: NYY, BOS(!) and SEA)

Last Week’s Results
Game 91
TOR 8  - CWS 4
Berríos: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 4 K, 2 BB
Barger: 1 for 4, HR (12)
Lukes: 1 for 3, HR (5)
Loperfido: 2 for 4, HR (1)

Game 92
TOR 6 - CWS 1 (7 innings) 
Bassitt: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 K, 1 BB (CG)
Schneider: 1 for 4, HR (5)
Springer: 2 for 2 with 2 BB

Game 93
CWS 2 - TOR 1
Lauer: 4 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 7 K, 1 BB
Bichette: 3 for 3
Wagner: 2 for 4

Game 94
TOR 7 - ATH 6
Scherzer: 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 8 K, 1 BB
Hoffman: 1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 K, 1 BB
Wagner: 2 for 3

Game 95
ATH 4 - TOR 3
Gausman: 5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 K, 2 BB
Jiménez: 1 for 4, HR (1)

Game 96
ATH 6 - TOR 3
Berríos: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 K, 2 BB
Barger: 1 for 3, HR (13)
D. Schneider: 1 for 3, HR (5)
Rest of Team: 2 for 24
J. Schneider: 0 for one challenging calls, ejection (2)

Highlights:
The Jays had a 5-run inning against Chicago that included a 414’ homer from Addison Barger and a Nathan Lukes squeeze-play bunt to score Ernie Clement. All of that coming after Lukes and Joey Loperfido had already homered in the game.

Another 5-run inning the next day helped propel Toronto to that 10th straight win. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. scored on a Barger double, marking one of his team-leading five runs on the week. He threw in a pair of stolen bases over the six games as well, which was the most on the roster, and earned his 1000th career hit - a big week for the All-Star!

Max Scherzer picked up his first win as a Blue Jay, mixing 8 Ks over six innings, including one that came as a pitch clock violation in his favour to end the 3rd inning.

Nathan Lukes turning a sliding catch into a double play is my defensive highlight of the week, showing that Barger’s cannon in RF isn’t the only thing to be feared from that corner.

Lastly, Davis Schneider hit two home runs in the same at-bat, sandwiched around his manager’s ejection because the first homer wasn’t recognized, was the perfect way to say goodbye to Sacramento. 

Lowlights:
Tyler Heineman had a game he’d just as soon forget on Saturday. The backup catcher has been having a great season, but 3 errors (two on catcher interference) in one game are never going to be justifiable.

Jeff Hoffman only saw one inning of work this week, and while he walked off the field with a Blue Jays win, thanks mainly to the 4-run cushion he entered with. He gave up 3 runs and a lot of loud contact. “Dread it, run from it, destiny arrives all the same” - maybe the Thanos-inspired bobblehead will bring the balance we crave. 

Streak Wrapups:
The win streaks were a highlight, and they vaulted the Jays to the top of the division, so it feels wrong to label their end as a lowlight. Having them end against the two worst teams in the AL certainly isn’t great, though, so I’m making a special section here just to mark them off. 

First, we have the 10-game win streak that ended against the White Sox and fell one game short of tying the franchise record.  
Next, in the bottom of the 5th inning Saturday, the Athletics scored two runs to take a 4-2 lead and marked the first time since the 4th inning on July 1st that the Jays trailed by more than one run. A 91-inning streak spread over 11 games.
Lastly, with the second loss to the Athletics, the Jays' streak of 5 consecutive series won came to an end. It really feels like the break is coming at precisely the right time.

News, Notes, and Not Playing:

• Justin Bruihl recalled from Triple-A
• Tommy Nance selected from Triple-A
• JoJo Parker was selected from the MLB Draft
• Jake Cook was selected from the MLB Draft

10-day IL: Daulton Varsho, Andrés Giménez

• Varsho has increased baserunning and is expected to begin a rehab assignment this week.
• Giménez was reported as “week to week” by manager John Schneider.

15-day IL: Yimi García, Nick Sandlin, Bowden Francis, Paxton Schultz

• García has thrown a pair of bullpen sessions and could return without a rehab assignment shortly after the ASG break.
• Sandlin was shut down from throwing mid-week and will begin ramping back up after a few days off
• Francis threw a bullpen session on the weekend, but there has been no timeline set on his rehab or return
• Schultz started throwing this week and is being monitored.

60-day IL: Alek Manoah, Ryan Burr, Anthony Santander

• Manoah is scheduled to start his full rehab schedule this week. He is expected to ramp up over at least five starts before a potential return to the big club.
• Burr will have multiple assessments of his MRI performed before the following steps are determined.

Trending Storylines:
With the division lead, we’re into “just win” territory. The Yankees won’t be going away, and the Red Sox just rattled off a 10-game win streak of their own to get into the wildcard spots. We’ve got the trade deadline on the horizon, and while it’s premature to start ‘planning the parade,’ it’s the first time Toronto has had the division lead at the ASG break since 1993. Could this team hit the heights of that ‘93 crew?

Looking Ahead:
Most of the team will be getting a well-deserved 4-day break for the All-Star Game and its surrounding festivities. Alejandro Kirk and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be in Atlanta representing the squad. After the break, San Francisco will be in Toronto for a 3-game set at the Rogers Centre. The Giants head into the break a half-game out of the last NL wildcard position and will be looking right there, led by former Jays Matt Chapman and Robbie Ray (currently the top two Giants by bWAR).

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