Blue Jays Bring Out the Brooms, But the Battle Is Just Beginning

[Leo Morgenstern]

The Royals were supposed to be one of the Blue Jays' weaker opponents down the stretch, but KC has been hot lately. The Jays dropped their series with the Royals last week, suffering a particularly embarrassing 13-2 loss in the rubber match. 

Thankfully, over the weekend, the Blue Jays took three of three from the Mariners, completing their first series sweep since June 16-18 in Boston. It was their first sweep at home since their very first series of the season against the A's. The Jays are now 3.5 games ahead of the M's in the Wild Card standings; according to FanGraphs, Toronto's playoff odds are now higher than Seattle's for the first time all year. 

Taking the season series against the Mariners was only the first challenge in the Blue Jays' stretch run quest. They may be well ahead of the Mariners in the Wild Card race, but they're still half a game behind the Orioles and 1.5 behind the Guardians, who currently hold the AL's final postseason berth.

On Tuesday, the Jays head to Cleveland for a pivotal three-game set – perhaps the most pivotal of their season. The good kind of sweep could put them back in the playoff picture. The bad kind would be a major hit to their Wild Card hopes. Then, they'll head to Kansas City in search of revenge. 

Before all of that, here's a quick recap of the week that was in Blue Jays baseball.

Toronto Blue Jays Week in Review (August 25-30)

Tuesday, August 25: KCR 5, TOR 3 

• Another big game for Brett Bateman: 3-for-5 with two of the Jays' three runs.
• Andrés Giménez returns after several games off. He goes 2-for-3 with a double and a hit-by-pitch.
• Nathan Lukes ends the game trying to stretch a two-run single into a double.

Wednesday, August 26: TOR 3, KCR 0

• Who needs a fifth starter? The bullpen pitches a shutout.
• Chad Dallas earns the win with the best game of his brief MLB career: eight up, eight down – with four strikeouts.
• Save number 30 for Louis Varland.

Thursday, August 27: KCR 13, TOR 2

• Another mediocre outing from Spencer Arrighetti. He's 0-2 in his first two games with the Jays.
• Simeon Woods Richardson lets the Royals blow the game open. After pitching to a 1.04 ERA in his first 17.1 innings with Toronto, SWR finally faltered.
• George Springer homers for the first time in nearly a month.

Friday, August 28: TOR 8, SEA 1

• Springer goes 4-for-4, homers for a second day in a row; Lukes hits his fourth homer in his last seven games.
• Dylan Cease throws another quality start, strikes out eight.
• Paul Sewald makes his sixth appearance for Toronto. He's yet to allow a run.

Saturday, August 29: TOR 4, SEA 3

• Hall of Excellence opened, Buck Martinez honored.
• José Soriano goes seven.
• Alejandro Kirk swipes a bag.  

Sunday, August 30: TOR 7, SEA 0

• Max Scherzer turns back the clock, strikes out 10 in seven scoreless frames.
• Springer, Kirk, Bateman continue to shine.
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hits his third double of the week (but still no homers at home).

Toronto Blue Jays Transactions of the Week

• Chad Dallas recalled to replace an injured Shane Bieber.
• Blue Jays sign Michael Lorenzen to a major league deal. Chad Dallas optioned.
• Blue Jays call up CJ Van Eyk, DFA Simeon Woods Richardson (again). 

Toronto Blue Jays Injury Updates of the Week

• Shane Bieber hits the IL with right teres major inflammation, retroactive to August 21. He will be shut down from throwing for at least another week. 
• Yimi García has thoracic outlet surgery.
• Joe Mantiply continues his rehab assignment, moves up to Triple-A Buffalo.
• Josh Smith starts a rehab assignment.
• Jameson Taillon starts a rehab assignment.
• Anthony Santander is hitting off a machine, still eyeing a return in 2026.

View full article