Article: Blue Jays Week in Review: Myles Straw's Surprise Power and Alejandro Kirk's Surprise Steal

[Jesse Burrill]

Weekly Snapshot: Mon, 8/11 through Sun, 8/17
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Record Last Week: 4-2 (Overall: 73-52)
Run Differential Last Week: +9 (Overall: +53)
Standings: First in AL East (5.0 games up on BOS), First in AL (0.5 games up on DET, 3.5 up on HOU)

Last Week’s Results
Game 120: CHC 1  - TOR 5
Berríos: 5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
Clement: 1-4, HR (9), 3 RBI
Varsho: 2-4, HR (12), RBI
Guerrero Jr.: 3-4  

Game 121: CHC 4 - TOR 1
Gausman: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Guerrero Jr.: 1-4, RBI
Bichette 0-2, 2 BB
Giménez: 1-3, R

Game 122: CHC 2 - TOR 1
Scherzer: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Guerrero Jr.: 1-3, HR (20), 2 RBI
Schneider: 0-2, BB, R
Barger: 1-3

Game 123: TEX 5 - TOR 6
Bassitt: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
Kirk: 2-4, HR (8), 4 RBI, SB
Barger: 2-4
Bichette: 1-4, R, RBI

Game 124: TEX 2 - TOR 14
Lauer: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
Straw: 4-5, 2 HR (3,4), 3 R, 5 RBI
Varsho: 3-3, HR (13), 3 R, 2 RBI, BB
Schneider: 3-4, HR (8), 2 R, 4 RBI, BB

Game 125: TEX 4 - TOR 10
Berríos: 4.1 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Guerrero Jr: 2-4, HR (21)
Springer: 1-4, HR (19)
Kirk: 1-4, HR (9)

Highlights
Myles Straw: This is not the first time this season that a player has earned a spotlight despite playing such a limited role during the past week. This time, it was Myles Straw’s turn to be a hero. He (almost) single-handedly won the Blue Jays the game on Saturday with a monster performance. Not only did he continue with his superb defence and baserunning, but the bat took over the show, with him collecting four hits and two home runs. Straw had only hit six home runs over parts of seven seasons coming into 2025, and now he has four on the year for an even 10 in his career. He even took a minute to flip his bat, which I'm sure Straw cherished knowing he got the home run. The story of the Blue Jays' season has been unexpected heroes, and this week, Straw played that part.

Alejandro Kirk: If Saturday was the Myles Straw game, then Friday night's dramatic comeback win must be dubbed the Alejandro Kirk game. He hit a two-run home run, had a clutch go-ahead two-run single late, and proceeded to steal his first base in the big leagues (more on that later). Combine that with another home run in the finale on Sunday, and it goes to show just how valuable Kirk has been to this team. He and the Blue Jays alike have got to be happy that he’s healthy and able to produce again.

Jeff Hoffman: What a roller coaster of a season Jeff Hoffman has had. The weekend before last in LA, he couldn't throw a strike to save his life and looked lost during that appearance. Some were wondering if he’d still have the chops to serve as the closer. But this week, it was straight back to dominance. Hoffman faced 10 batters, allowed just one hit, and struck out eight of them, including getting his 27th save of the season and 45th game finished. There is still the risk of some blowups going forward, but when a player has as dominant a week as Hoffman had, you have to take notice.

Lowlights
José Berríos: With Shane Bieber set to join the starting rotation at some point this upcoming week, every start that a Blue Jay pitcher makes feels that much more impactful, either positively or negatively. For Berríos, that was the case this week. He held his own in the opener against the Cubs, but on Sunday against the Rangers, it was a different story. Six earned runs and 10 hits allowed are going to make it hard for any team to win a game, and that's what happened here. For what it's worth, a two-run single that Berríos gave up had an xBA of .070, and the home run he gave up to Corey Seager had an xBA of .010, but that's not what happened in reality. The nine hard-hit balls he allowed (per Baseball Savant) continued a theme of Berríos being hit hard. Assuming he is completely healthy and not running out of steam, he should get a chance to rebound this week in Miami.

Chris Bassitt: The good news (if it is good news) for Berríos is that Chris Bassitt has also put the microscope on him after a subpar performance this week. On Friday night against the Rangers, Bassitt ran into some trouble, giving up three earned runs over his five innings of work. The more worrisome sign is that his control seems to have disappeared lately. He walked four batters, a season high, and hit another one to go along with the four hits he gave up. That's now multiple free passes in each of his three August starts. Post-All-Star break, his ERA is up to 4.55, but a 5.86 FIP implies that it could be even worse than that. Between Bassitt and Berríos, the Blue Jays will be hoping to see at least one of them step it up, or they could be looking at potentially reduced roles going down the stretch and into the postseason.

Random Notes of the Week:

• Alejandro Kirk stole his first base (the first in his career) on Friday. Kirk received a standing ovation from the fans, and after the game, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. took the base and gave it to him as a memento.
   
• George Springer hit in the leadoff spot on Sunday upon his return from the IL. John Schneider hinted that it may be a regular gig for Springer.
   
• The Blue Jays had their 39th comeback win this weekend, which is the most in baseball.
   
• No. 2 Prospect Trey Yesavage was promoted to Triple A earlier this week. He faced 10 batters, allowed one hit, walked four, and struck out three in his Buffalo debut.
   
• Ernie Clement allegedly missed a bunt sign before he hit a three-run home run on Tuesday.
   
• Alek Manoah made his first Triple-A start this year, facing 11 batters, allowing two hits, walking three, and striking out one.
   
• John Schneider recorded his 282nd win as a manager, moving into fourth all-time in Blue Jays franchise history.
   
• Prior to Myles Straw's two-home run game, he turned away from the “torpedo bat” he was using earlier in the season and switched to a more traditional bat.
   
• The Blue Jays have signed 18-year-old RHP Seo-jun Moon out of South Korea for a $1.5 million signing bonus. He boasts a low-90s fastball and the ability to spin the ball (via Arden Zwelling on X).
   
• It was Players' Weekend across MLB this week. Bo Bichette used a green Brazilian-themed bat, while Vlad swung an “ice cream” themed bat during BP (h/t Brandon Wile on X).
   
• Tyler Heineman got a pitching appearance this week. He allowed a hit and hit a batter, giving up one earned run.

News, Notes and Not Playing

• OF/DH George Springer returned from the concussion IL, OF Joey Loperfido was optioned to Triple A.
• 2B Andrés Giménez was reinstated from the IL, Buddy Kennedy was DFA’d and claimed by the Dodgers.

15-day IL: Yimi Garcia, Nick Sandlin,

• Yimi García is still having ulnar nerve symptoms (via Mitch Bannon on X).
• Sandlin is playing catch from 120 feet in Florida (via Bannon).

60-day IL: Anthony Santander, Alek Manoah, Shane Bieber, Bowden Francis

• OF/DH Anthony Santander started a hitting progression in Toronto. He is swinging from both sides but is feeling more comfortable from the left side (via Bannon)
• RHP Alek Manoah and RHP Shane Bieber made rehab appearances in Buffalo. Bieber seems set to join the big league rotation later this week. 
• Bowden Francis has started throwing in Florida.

Trending Storylines
Shane Bieber is set to make his Toronto Blue Jays debut this week, and with another name joining the rotation, there are a few questions that need to be answered.

Will the Blue Jays go with a six-man rotation? Will someone get bumped? And who will be the pitcher sent down to make room for Bieber on the roster? As previously mentioned, there is going to be a lot of pressure on the starting pitchers as a decision looms. Max Scherzer looks the best he ever has as a Blue Jay right now, Kevin Gausman has been consistently effective, and Eric Lauer put together another strong start against the Rangers, bouncing back from a rough one in Los Angeles.

In the bullpen, the Blue Jays seem to be running a stable group, but Louis Varland has allowed earned runs in back-to-back appearances, and it’ll be interesting to see how John Schneider chooses to use the high-leverage arms in the bullpen.

Offensively, it seems like fans can expect more of the same. The Blue Jays' bats have come alive again, and a large part of that is thanks to the performance of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He has a 1.144 OPS post-All-Star break and has been every bit the offensive star we all know Vlad can be. The Blue Jays have also been getting clutch performances from players up and down the lineup. Kirk, Clement, Straw, and Daulton Varsho all had clutch performances this week, and the Blue Jays will hope for more of the same going forward. As always, staying healthy and staying productive will be key for this team. 

Looking Ahead
Coming off a 4-2 homestand, the Blue Jays will head on the road for six games against two National League opponents. First, they will head to Pittsburgh for a three-game series against Paul Skenes and the Pirates. The last time the Blue Jays were in Pittsburgh in May 2023, they swept the Pirates, but that may be tough to do again as they are set to face Skenes, the defending Rookie of the Year and current NL ERA leader, in the opener. The Blue Jays will also be reconnected with old friends Spencer Horwitz and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, both of whom had some success with the Blue Jays just last season. The Pirates are last in the NL Central and 3-7 in their last 10 games. So, on paper, the Blue Jays should have the advantage.

After a day off and travel day on Thursday, the Blue Jays will pay a visit to the Miami Marlins in the Sunshine State. Assuming probable pitchers hold, the Blue Jays will get a look at Canadian native Cal Quantrill in the opener and a look at one of baseball's best young pitchers, Eury Pérez, in the finale. After a surprisingly successful mid-season run, the Marlins have gone into a bit of a tailspin lately; they are also 3-7 in their last 10. They will play three games against the Cardinals before the Blue Jays come to town.

All in all, the Blue Jays have many questions that could be answered this upcoming week, but as long as they can still put up good battles against good pitchers, they should be in a good position to add more wins as their quest for the AL East and a first-round bye in the playoffs continues.

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