Just like that, the WC lead is gone (assuming no comeback today). It’s a miracle the Jays are even in this spot with this rotation but they really have to skip Spaghetti’s starts whenever they can the rest of the way.
I guess the Jays can't keep running out bullpen games, especially with Taillon leaving his start early on Friday, but kinda wish this game had an opener. Not sure Spaghetti is going to be effective or eat up any meaningful innings. but hope he can.
Lorenzen eating up 3 innings was huge. Big win. Unfortunately the Tigers stink but all the Jays can do is keep winning. Whatever happens from there is out of their control.
Jacob Waguespack who I had no idea was still in the league gives up a game tying HR to Bazzana. The Tigers definitely don't want to help the Jays this weekend.
Would be great if Lorenzen could eat up 3 innings here. The combination of JS being obsessed with pitching changes + Lorenzen being terrible makes that unlikely.
Taillon was giving up an average EV of like 110 in those 2 innings. Sucks that he got hurt and have to go to the pen this early but chances are he was going to get smashed 2nd time through the order.
Texas already won the season series against the Jays,. Getting 4 game swept at home against them was very costly. The Jays have already won the SS against the Guardians, and need to go 3-3 against the O's to win that tiebreaker. So the Rangers are really the biggest issue here. Even though the Jays can't win the SS against them, they probably have to sweep that series or at least win 2/3 later this month.
Just keep winning every series. I don’t like the starters the Jays have lined up against the Royals but they have no choice with the injuries. Just have to find a way to win with Spaghetti and Taillon starting games down the stretch.
Yeah the lack of pop is going to hurt the Brewers unless their pitching compensates for it. The Jays mashed HR's last post season, same with Texas in 2023, etc. It's why the Jays possibly sneaking in this season won't do much unless Vlad goes berserk because "death by a thousand papercuts" doesn't work in the post season, at least not over a longer sample.
Bases loaded and 1 out resulting in 0 runs (Gimenez K and then Clement out) might come back and bite them. Gimenez is usually good at putting the ball in play too.
Could end up being an interesting buy low on a league average bat with versatile defense. I figured he'd be more of a 2027 pickup but he's been great so far.
Resting Okamoto is fine, but not sure why Springer and Kirk are both out of the lineup too. Kirk could have DH'd and even an ancient and physically broken down Springer can't be much worse than Sanchez in LF. This is not the game where you should prioritize rest when you're facing the current WC3 leader and the tiebreaker is on the line.
Hopefully it works. I do like seeing Keys in the lineup.
Fisher since June: -0.3 WAR, 6.11 BB/9, 5.24 FIP
Damn, didn't realize he's been this bad for months. I'd still rather have him on the mound than Spaghetti, Mantiply, Lorenzen, etc, but clearly isn't in the Miles-Flu-Rogers-Varland tier.
Yeah Fisher tonight and the parade of scrubs last night is certainly a decision. The Guardians had Austin Hedges pitching in the 9th. I don't think you needed to use anyone of leverage here John, but JS is JS.
My guess is Cease goes 7 and then Little and Sewald to end it, but I’d definitely be tempted to pull Cease now given the score, I just don’t trust JS to not use a leverage RP for no reason.