glory

Vlad isn’t coming up in the 9th so the Jays still have a chance!

Just a reminder that this is year 1 of 15 post extension, with 14 more years after this one. Ed Rogers was on crack when he agreed to that contract. Oh well, hold them to 2 runs and get Houser out of the game.

Keller is a good SP, but makes $16.5M in 2026, $18M in 2027, and $20M in 2028. That's not unreasonable for what he is, but it's closer to a FA contract, so you'd be paying very close to full freight from an AAV standpoint. The Pirates should still be able to get a good package for him, but I don't think it would require Nimmala or Yesavage, though I could be wrong. Atkins has invested a lot with SP's that have a history of durability, and Keller is on pace for his 4th straight 30+ start season. I think there will be real interest there.

Keller does seem like a realistic Atkins pickup. Locked up for a few years and has a history of durability. Not sure I'd trust him any more or less than what the Jays currently have, seems like another #3-ish type to add to the rotation full of #3's the Jays already have, but might be as good of a SP as they can realistically get at the deadline. Whether I'd trade Nimmala for him is a different story. Nimmala has been on a horrendous slump for over a month, and is still a league average offensive player at 19 in A+ with respectable a BB%, K%, and ISO. If you're trading him, then I'd prefer someone with a bit more upside coming back. Though I don't know how the Jays feel about him, nor what the league as a whole does. If he actually makes MLB at some point, then I'm sure Rogers could probably get some extra dollars from that (especially if he's good), but that's far from a certainty at this point.

Astros lose as well, so the Jays are 1 game behind them in the standings now (actually 2 with the tiebreaker).

Perfect result. Jays win and no relievers used.

I don’t mind trading Nimmala but not for Mitch Keller.

Yeah with the current roster configuration, this looks like the best lineup they can field against RHP. Wagner is a noodle bat so he shouldn't play above Loperfido or even DS, and Jimenez historically has been better against LHP.

I don’t think there’s a logjam unless Loperfido suddenly has a Barger style breakout before Santander returns. Once the 3 injured players get back, it’s clearly Wagner, Jimenez, and Joey going to AAA. Springer apparently likes to DH and Tony for some reason performs better when he’s playing the field, so it might actually work out with this alignment. Of course if Popkins unleashes Loperfido and we have a glut of good players when everyone gets back and not enough spots for them then yeah that’s a problem I’d have no issues having to deal with.

Agreed. I much prefer this over making jokes about needing 5 singles to score 1 run, which was basically all of April. Winning cures all.

At least Hoffman wasn't used, I guess. I actually would have had no issues with this bullpen mismanagement if Hoffman didn't start warming as soon as Green gave up a base runner. It's a 4 run lead against the f'n White Sox. Relax.

Warming up Hoffman. Schneider is ridiculous.

Looks like Green coming in. That's fine too. He's been better lately, but still not someone I'd care about using in this spot. As long as Hoffman/Little/Rodriguez/Fisher are not used (and Burr as well, I guess), then that's still a win at the end of the day.

Thankfully Sandlin holds the lead to 4. If it became a sAvE sItUaTiOn, then Hoffman would have been warming up. Just let Sandlin finish it at this point. If he's the only actual reliever used in this game, then no biggie.

Hopefully Sandlin can hold them here. If the White Sox score one more, Hoffman will warm up within seconds.

Schneider may have done this purposely to find an excuse to use more relievers. Otherwise I can't wrap my head around taking Berrios out at 76 pitches.

Yeah if the Jays win, Pina pitches 3, and no one in the pen has to warm up, then all is good. If Pina gives up a few more runs though, then Schneider is gonna Schneider.

Berrios only threw 76 pitches. Not sure why they couldn't have him eat up one more inning before letting Pina get the 8th and 9th. Now the game is closer, and Schneider is going to break into cold sweats as he gets Little to warm up next inning.

My guess is Berrios goes 7 and Pina goes 2 to finish it, but if Berrios has another 5-10 pitch inning, then who knows.

If anyone other than Berrios and Pina pitch in this game…..

Popkins about to turn Loperfido into a player now.

In the absence of a true ace, and with the way Schneider typically uses the bullpen, I think a high leverage reliever is mandatory to add at the deadline. I'd be shocked if any of the current SP is allowed to face a lineup for the 3rd time in a playoff series regardless, so stacking up high leverage arms out of the pen is a good idea. If you're going for the 2015 Royals model, then go all in. Stack the pen up. There doesn't appear to be a top of the rotation arm available so tough to see where the rotation add is going to come from. I still think Sandy is fixable, and if you put him in front of the Jays defense, along with Pete Walker who has a decent history of helping veteran starters, he seems like someone who the Jays could benefit from. The question is whether you get that benefit in 2025, or if it's more of a 2026-27 play. Either way, that's the closest thing to a TOR starter available. I don't think you can be satisfied with Scherzer whose thumb could explode at any moment and Lauer who a year ago was in the KBO. Maybe you can get by with that, but it would be asking a lot. Hitting to me is a "depends on who is available and for what cost" decision. It's not mandatory to add there if everyone is back healthy and DS is a MLB player again, but Santander to me is the biggest wild card. You absolutely need power in the playoffs. If he's out for longer than expected, then I think you have to get a power bat somewhere.

Jays developing relievers like crazy this season. Love to see it.

Other than FB velocity, Sandy's statcast page is ocean blue right now, so it would definitely be a risk for 2025 as he'd be bumping Lauer out of the rotation, but the mix of upside and cost certainty (2026 + team option for 2027) is very enticing, especially if there's a chance you can get him for a little bit less due to his performance. But yeah we will see what Ross has in mind.