Yesterday’s loss didn’t erase what came before it, but it did take a little shine off a solid stretch for the Blue Jays. Even so, taking three of four from the Red Sox still says plenty about how this team has looked since the deadline.
Now comes the real test. Toronto is about to face a brutal run of opposing arms, starting with Gerrit Cole today, then Cam Schlittler tomorrow, and Ryan Weathers on Sunday. That’s a tough series matchup any way you slice it.
There was also a little roster movement before the game. Paul Sewald is active tonight, giving the Jays another arm to work with.
He has put together a strong strikeout-to-walk profile this season, sitting at 44:9 in 39 innings, but the long ball has been a problem, with 12 home runs contributing to the damage on his ERA. The hope is that either better luck or a new coaching staff can help him clean that up.
To make room, Lazaro Estrada was optioned. Because of a new rule this year, that move matters a little more now: since he has already been optioned five times this season, bringing him back and sending him down again would require a DFA. Estrada hasn’t been good this year, but it does add another layer to an already messy pitching picture.
There was also a small update on Anthony Santander, who is reportedly hitting off a tee. That’s good news in a vacuum, though the assumption remains that he is effectively medically retired until proven otherwise.
In Other News...
Blue Jays Suddenly Have A Catching Depth Issue They Cant Ignore
The Blue Jays catching picture got thinner this week when Willie MacIver was designated for assignment and quickly moved on from the organization. MacIver had been with Triple-A Buffalo and had put together solid offensive numbers there, giving Toronto a useful extra option to keep around as the season grinds on and injuries or call-up needs inevitably start to matter.
Seattle claimed MacIver off waivers and sent him to Triple-A Tacoma, leaving Toronto to sort through a depth chart that is not nearly as comfortable as it looked a few days ago. The timing also underscores how quickly catching depth can vanish for a club, especially when the front office is trying to keep one eye on the big-league roster and another on the pipeline underneath it. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays May Finally Be Seeing The Brandon Barriera They Drafted
Brandon Barrieras name has lingered in Blue Jays circles for years because the talent was never really the question, only the health and the stops and starts that have slowed everything down. The 22-year-old left-hander, once regarded as one of Torontos top pitching prospects, has spent much of his pro career trying to get back on the mound long enough to show the organization what it drafted in the first place.
His latest step came with Single-A Dunedin, where he flashed the kind of outing Toronto has been waiting for from him. After a long absence, Barriera turned in four no-hit innings with six strikeouts, a sharp reminder that there is still real upside here if he can stay available. The road back has been a difficult one, though, and his minor league line still reflects how much injury trouble has interrupted his development and kept him from building any real momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Judge Update Could Change What Blue Jays Are Facing
The Yankees have spent more than two months trying to hold things together without Aaron Judge, and the absence has been easy to feel in a lineup that has slipped well below its usual standard. Since Judge last played on May 31, New York has gone 32-30 and has ranked 27th in team OPS since June 1, a reminder that even a club sitting at 68-53 can look a lot different when its best bat is missing.
For the Blue Jays, that matters because the Yankees are still right in the thick of the race, sitting second in the AL East and holding the first American League wild-card spot. A potential Judge return in the final stretch could quickly change the shape of that chase, but for now the bigger question is whether Toronto is dealing with a contender that has already stabilized or one that is about to get a major jolt back in the middle of its order. [Read more 🡒]