The Blue Jays have started to shake off the trade deadline dust, and a quick series win over the Astros gave them a little something to build on. Now they turn to an unusual one-game stop in Chicago, where Toronto will face the Cubs in a make-up matchup that was pushed back by weather on June 21.
Toronto’s lineup for Thursday reflects both the recent momentum and a few key absences. Myles Straw leads off in center field, followed by Kazuma Okamoto at first base, Alejandro Kirk behind the plate, George Springer at designated hitter, Nathan Lukes in right field, Ernie Clement at third, Luis Urias at second, Davis Schneider in left, and Andres Gimenez at shortstop.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is sitting for a second straight game, which moves Okamoto over to first. Guerrero Jr. has been stuck in a rough power stretch, with just three home runs since June 18 and still looking for his first at home. Over his last seven games, he’s hit .192.
Straw gets the first crack at the top of the order, and he’s earned it lately. He’s put together a .412 on-base percentage and six hits across his last seven games.
Toronto will see left-hander David Peterson, who enters with a 5.52 ERA over 22 starts. Peterson has allowed a .281 average against right-handed hitters, and that helps explain why manager John Schneider is rolling out seven right-handed bats. The lefty has also had trouble in the first two innings, making the early part of the game especially important for Toronto.
There was at least some thought that Kevin Gausman could have made his Cubs debut against his former team, but that won’t happen Thursday.
The Blue Jays are 54-61 and in the middle of a strange three-city road swing that continues after Chicago, with Philadelphia next on the schedule this weekend. Their trip opened with a 5-4 win over Houston on Wednesday, when Toronto erased a 3-0 deficit with a three-run sixth inning.
Kazuma Okamoto drove in a run with a single, Jesus Sanchez launched a two-run homer, and Ernie Clement delivered the go-ahead shot in the 10th. Chase Lee also picked up the first save of his career.
On the mound for Toronto is Dylan Cease, whose July was nothing short of dominant. He had three starts in which he worked at least seven innings without allowing a run, and he’ll try to keep that run going as the Blue Jays look to carry their momentum forward.
In Other News...
Blue Jays Suddenly Have A Kazuma Okamoto Problem At The Plate
Kazuma Okamotos bat has hit a rough patch at exactly the point when opposing pitchers started treating him differently. After a strong first half at the plate, the adjustment came in July, when he began seeing fewer four-seam fastballs, the pitch he had handled best early on. The result has been a sharp dip in his slugging and overall quality of contact, a reminder that even productive hitters can be forced into a tougher shape once pitchers find the right mix.
The more troubling part for Toronto is how quickly the rest of the profile has followed the same downward path. Okamoto has been chasing less favorable counts more often, striking out more, and losing some of the plate discipline that helped make him dangerous in the first place. Even his damage on sliders and sweepers has disappeared, leaving the Blue Jays with a hitter whose early-season production no longer looks nearly as sustainable as it once did. [Read more 🡒]
Former Blue Jays Reliever Just Had A Rough Start To His Fresh Chance
Seranthony Dominguez got his fresh start in Seattle after the Chicago White Sox sent him to the Mariners in the Luis Castillo deal, but the first outing did not go the way he or his new club wanted. The former Blue Jays reliever, who had pitched well in Toronto last season, arrived with some recent momentum and the kind of arm Seattle hoped could help steady its bullpen.
Instead, Dominguezs Mariners debut turned into a tough first impression, with the right-hander getting hit hard in a very short outing. For a pitcher trying to build on what he showed with the Blue Jays, the next few chances will matter as he looks to settle in and show that one rough appearance is not the story of his new stop. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Are Throwing Brett Bateman Into The Spotlight Fast
A quick rise through the minors has put Brett Bateman on the doorstep of the majors, and the Blue Jays are ready to see what the 24-year-old left-handed outfielder can do in a big-league setting. Originally drafted by Chicago in 2023, Bateman has built a reputation for bringing both offense and defense to the field, enough to keep moving him closer to an opportunity with Toronto after arriving in the deal that sent Kevin Gausman to the Cubs.
Bateman is now on track for his first MLB appearance with the Blue Jays, and the assignment comes in a meaningful spot against the Phillies. He is slated to handle center field and hit ninth, which gives Toronto a look at how the newcomer fits into the lineup and the outfield mix right away. [Read more 🡒]