Toronto Blue Jays Week in Review: Sweeps, Both Good & Bad

Weekly Snapshot: Thurs, 3/27 through Sun, 4/6
***
Record Last Week: 5-5 (Overall: 5-5)
Run Differential Last Week: -6 (Overall: -6)
Standings: Third Place in AL East (1.5 GB), 3rd Place in AL Wildcard (0.0 GB)

Last Week's Results:
Game 1: BAL 12 - TOR 2
Berríos: 5.0 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Giménez: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI

Game 2 | BAL 2 - TOR 8
Gausman: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Bichette, Guerrero Jr., Santander, Springer, and Wagner all with two hits each

Game 3: BAL 9 - TOR 5
Scherzer: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Bichette 4-for-4

Game 4: BAL 1 - TOR 3
Bassitt: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
Heineman 1-for-3, HR

Game 5: WAS 2 - TOR 5
Francis: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
Giménez: Double, HR, three runs scored

Game 6: WAS 3 - TOR 5
Berríos: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
Bichette, Kirk, Springer, Wagner and Roden with two hits each

Game 7: WAS 2 - TOR 4
Lucas: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Straw 3-for-4; Springer HR

Game 8: TOR 0 - NYM 5
Gausman: 5.1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0K
Springer: 2-for-4 with a triple

Game 9: TOR 2 - NYM 3
Bassitt: 6.2 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 K
Roden 2-for-3 with two runs scored

Game 10: TOR 1 - NYM 2
Francis: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
Kirk: 2-for-4

Highlights
Before the season started, we tagged Bo Bichette as a Make or Break candidate, and so far he’s been making it. Hitting leadoff, he leads the team in hits. He’s been hitting to all fields, and at his best he’s always been a free-swinging bat, so the low walk count isn’t a cause for concern.

When the Jays acquired Andrés Giménez, we often said “if he can just be a league-average hitter, the glove will provide enough value.” He’s already made some great defensive plays, but the power surge in the first five games was a delightful addition. He hit the Jays' first home run of the season and currently leads the team with three. For the pessimists in the crowd, I will allow that he’s 3-for-19 in the last five games, but the offensive powerhouse itch has been scratched, and fairly or not, we’ll be looking for more pop all season.

George Springer has certainly been a highlight reel player early on. He’s one of only three Jays with a homer (plus a pair of doubles that hit high up on the wall at Rogers Centrel; this one would’ve been a homer in 13 other ballparks). His 1.076 OPS leads the team, and he tried to run through an outfield wall to make a play. He was listed as day-to-day after that wall collision on Saturday, but was well enough on Sunday to pinch run and steal a base, so hopefully that’s all the maintenance these back spasms needed.

Jesse Burrill made the case for Alan Roden to be on the active roster to start the season. Roden started Opening Day and has continued to make the case for himself. He belongs here. He’s come up with some timely hits, has the fewest strikeouts on the team (with more ABs than five other players) and has shown some great range playing the field.

Chris Bassitt (also known as the Hound on the Mound) probably had fewer words written about him than any other Jays starter heading into this season. Two times through the rotation and he’s the early season ace. Bassitt has 12 2/3 innings pitched, one earned run, and 16 strikeouts. He got the win in the last game of the Baltimore series and was on track for a win against the Mets following an even better start before that game slipped away.

To say Easton Lucas wasn’t expected to start in the first 10 games would be an incredible understatement. He was called upon though, and absolutely aced his first test. Five innings of one-hit shutout ball is enough to give him the ball the next time through the order. If he can have half as good of a game at Fenway as he did in his Rogers Centre debut, start he’ll be back in this highlight section soon.

Lowlights
It wasn’t all good news though. The beginning of the Max Scherzer era in Toronto lasted 45 pitches before he landed on the IL. We knew the risks when Scherzer was signed, he’s a 40-year-old pitcher after all. To only get three innings despite the "imminent danger” felt disappointing, not to mention the strain it put on the bullpen

Just kidding! We’re absolutely going to mention the bullpen. After being called on for seven innings of work through the first two games, the ‘pen had to put up another six innings in game three, and the ripple effects from that, plus the pre-season injuries led to some…inconsistent results. Maybe it isn’t fair to lump the whole ‘pen in here together. Jeff Hoffman has three saves and Yimi García has yet to give up a run. On the heels of wasting Bassitt’s last start though, we’ve got to note that bullpen (and maybe its management) hasn’t been stellar.

How early is too early to worry about the lack of home run power from the lineup? Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Anthony Santander were expected to be the major source of power in this Jays lineup, and so far they’ve combined for zero round-trippers. Granted, they’re not alone. Only Giménez, Springer and Tyler Heineman(!) have homers so far. The Jays rank third-worst in barrel rate. They’re just inside the top 10 for hard-hit rate and exit velocity, so maybe it’s too early to worry. Dingers make good highlights and put runs on the board, though, and after a series where 33% of the Jays runs came via HBP, we could use some long balls.

News, Notes and Not Playing
Can you believe we waited until this far into a review of the week before mentioning the biggest news this franchise has seen since the unveiling of a retractable roof? Vladimir Guerrero Jr. agreed to a $500-million, 728-week extension to stay in Toronto! A huge deal for the player, a massive deal for the franchise, and more angles to cover than I think we’ve even realized yet.

Day-to-day: George Springer
10-day IL: Daulton Varsho
15-day IL: Erik Swanson, Ryan Burr, Max Scherzer
60-day IL: Alek Manoah, Angel Bastardo

Trending Storyline
How long can Davis Schneider stick with the big club? He’s only had 10 at-bats so far this season, but he has zero hits and six strikeouts to show for it. He's a pinch-hitter or a spot starter who's in there to face lefties, but he won't have the role for very long if he's not hitting. Last season’s 0.0 bWAR and this early season’s -26 OPS+ can’t leave him with too long of a leash. 

Looking Ahead
The road trip continues with two AL East stops: four games in Boston followed by a three-game set in Baltimore. With the division expected to be extremely tight all season, this is a pivotal week even though we’re only 10 games into the season.