Blue Jays Week in Review: I Never Want To Go to Tampa Again

Weekly Snapshot: Mon, 9/15 through Sun, 9/21
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Record Last Week: 3-4 (Overall: 90-66)
Run Differential Last Week: -23 (Overall: +63)
Standings: First Place in AL East (2.0 games up on NYY), First in AL (3.0 games up on SEA)

Game 150: TOR 2 - TB 1 (11 innings)
Yesavage: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K
Bullpen: 6 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K
Clement: 1 for 4, both runs scored

Game 151: TOR 6 - TB 5
Berríos: 4 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
Springer: 3 for 5, 2 RBI
Lukes: 1 for 4, HR (11)
Loperfido: 1 for 2, HR (4)

Game 152: TB 2 - TOR 1
Gausman: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Clement: 2 for 3
Rest of Jays: 2 for 27

Game 153: TB 4 - TOR 0
Bassitt: 4.1 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Jays: 4 for 29

Game 154: KC 20 - TOR 1
Scherzer: 0.2 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Heineman: 1.1 IP, 13 H, 10 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Springer: 2 for 3, HR (30)
Rest of Jays: 1 for 27

Game 155: KC 2 - TOR 1
Bieber: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Varsho: 1 for 3, HR (19)
Rest of Jays: 3 for 27

Game 156: TOR 8 - KC 5
Yesavage: 4 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Giménez: 2 for 4, 2 RBI, 1 run, first triple

Highlights:
George Springer: Springer had 10 hits to lead the team this week, including a homer on his birthday. His five RBI were also a team best on a week when runs were hard to come by. The now 36-year-old has continued to defy the odds and provided a boost more often than not, leading the team in multiple offensive categories all season. It’s a shame he doesn’t like the roof being open, because I feel like in these playoffs, he’s going to blow it off.

Trey Yesavage: What a first performance from the young right-hander. His 9 Ks set a franchise record for a debut. He missed an immaculate inning by one pitch (arguably umpire-induced) and ended the game with 19 swing-and-miss strikes, good for second-best of all Jays pitchers this season (Kevin Gausman’s 21 against the Tigers in July is the team high). The future looks bright, and he may be called on for a larger role than any of us expected, even a week ago.

Lowlights:
Max Scherzer: The Jays have very publicly discussed the fact that Scherzer has been tipping pitches for at least the last couple of weeks. If that’s the simple answer, the fix should be similarly simple. If there’s something else in his mechanics that is causing these results, the Jays don’t have much time to sort it out. For a player (regardless of pedigree) to be in the discussion to start Game 3 of a playoff series, we need to be confident they can get out of the first inning without a meltdown.

Stats of the Week:

• The Blue Jays franchise got back to .500 (3850-3850) for the first time since May 1995.
• Toronto ends the season with a 40-41 road record. Only the Mariners have a worse (39-42) road record of AL teams with playoff aspirations (though we can also dent Boston’s record this week).
• George Springer’s leadoff home run on his birthday was the second time in his career he’s led off a birthday game with a dinger. He's the only player in MLB history to do it twice.
• Salvador Perez’s home run against Max Scherzer was the 303rd of his career. The first home run of his career was also against Scherzer. 14 seasons ago.
• Schneiders has recognized the season record of hot dogs consumed at the Rogers Centre this season and will have Hot Dog Champ merch available at the final Loonie Dog game of the season tomorrow.

News, Notes and Not Playing:

• José Berríos was moved to the bullpen. 
• Trey Yesavage was called up from Triple A.
• Ryan Borucki was DFA’d.
• Mason Fluharty was called up from Triple A.

10-day IL: Bo Bichette

• Bichette has started light hitting and has been showing improvement. His status for the playoffs is still unclear.

15-day IL: Nick Sandlin, Chris Bassitt

• Sandlin continues to ramp up but appears to be out of runway to make a meaningful return this season.
• Bassitt hitting the IL really throws a wrench into the playoff rotation picture. 

60-day IL: Anthony Santander

• Santander played in the final two games of Buffalo’s season. He went 3-for-9 with a home run, three RBI and one run scored over his final three appearances. His availability and potential return may be complicated.

Trending Storylines:
The Jays scored three runs total across their four-game losing streak on the road. The last time they had a road trip through Tampa Bay, they had similarly brutal results and righted the ship when they returned home. With a week to go in the season and the desire to lock up homefield and a first-round bye, the Jays will need to repeat that trend and get results.

The magic number to win the division sits at four, so Toronto can handle their business without ever having to look at the out-of-town scoreboard. With the Yankees facing the White Sox and then the Orioles, that might be the route the Jays need to take.

Looking Ahead:
The final homestand of the regular season is here with a pair of AL East teams coming to Toronto and hoping to play spoiler. First up is the Red Sox, who are currently clinging to a Wild Card spot. Boston has a one-game lead over Houston and Cleveland and owns the tiebreaker against both. FanGraphs has the Red Sox's playoffs odds close to 90%, but with nothing assured and series against Toronto and Detroit to close out their year, Boston will be looking to clinch early. We’re projected to see Lucas Giolito, Garrett Crochet and Brayan Bello in the series, so hopefully the Jays bats just need some home cooking to get going again.

Three games against Tampa will provide the cap on the regular season. Ideally, business is taken care of by the time Boston leaves town, and the final series can be used as a tune-up for the playoffs and a way to get the rotation and bats set for the postseason.