The Blue Jays kept themselves above .500 and in the last Wild Card spot with a 4-3 win over the Royals, and this one had plenty of early noise before settling into a tight finish.
Toronto jumped on Kansas City right away with two runs in the first, though it easily could have been more. Brett Bateman opened the game with a single, but he was quickly picked off first.
George Springer then flied out to center, and Vladimir Guerrero followed with a single. Alejandro Kirk looked like he might be the third out, but the Royals’ third baseman threw wide of first, allowing Guerrero to score from first and Kirk to reach second.
Nathan Lukes lined a single to left to bring Kirk home, and Kazuma Okamoto followed with a double to put runners on second and third. That was the end of the rally.
Max Scherzer’s first inning was a mess, even if the damage stayed relatively light. He allowed three hits, a walk, hit a batter and committed a balk, but only two runs crossed. That left the game tied, and Scherzer settled in after that, covering 4.2 more innings while giving up just one additional run, a John Rave home run.
Toronto answered in the third. Lukes singled with one out, and Okamoto doubled him in to make it 3-2.
The deciding run came in the seventh. Springer led off with a walk and stole second.
Guerrero struck out, Kirk grounded out, and then Lukes reached on a Bobby Witt throwing error. Okamoto came through again, singling in the run that put the Jays ahead for good.
Toronto’s bullpen handled the rest. Mason Fluharty recorded the final out of the sixth and the first two outs of the seventh.
Paul Sewald got the last out of the seventh. Tyler Rogers worked through a stressful eighth, allowing singles to the first two hitters before getting a ground ball back to him, turning and firing a perfect throw to second to start a key double play, then ending the inning with another ground out.
Louis Varland closed it out in the ninth for his 33rd save.
Guerrero also came up with a huge defensive play in the first. With runners on first and second, he fielded a ground ball and threw to third to cut down the lead runner. That mattered once Scherzer later balked the runners up.
Toronto finished with 13 hits but only two extra-base hits, both Okamoto doubles. Okamoto went 4-for-4, Lukes had three hits, and Springer was the only Blue Jay without a hit, though he did walk, steal a base and score.
Jays of the Day went to Okamoto (0.32 WPA), Varland (0.21), Rogers (0.15), Lukes (0.13) and Fluharty (0.09). The other side of the ledger included Guerrero (-0.11), Bateman (-0.10), Straw (-0.10) and Clement (-0.09).
In Other News...
Blue Jays Playoff Push Now Rests On A Shorthanded Rotation
The Blue Jays have spent much of the summer trying to patch together their pitching depth, but the late-season picture is especially thin now. Jameson Taillon landed on the injured list with an elbow issue and is likely done for the year, leaving Toronto with a rotation that has already been hit hard by injuries and one traded-away arm, a tough setup as the club closes in on the final stretch.
With the season down to its last 19 games and a playoff spot still in play, the burden now falls heavily on Dylan Cease, Jos Soriano and Max Scherzer to keep the staff afloat. For a team that has managed to stay in the race despite all the attrition, the next few turns through the rotation may decide whether Toronto is still playing meaningful baseball when the calendar flips. [Read more 🡒]
Marlins Move On From Recent Infield Addition After Bat Never Arrived
The Marlins have moved on from Leo Jimenez, the infielder they picked up from the Blue Jays shortly after Opening Day, ending a brief run that never really got off the ground. After being designated for assignment, Jimenez was released rather than outrighted to the minors, a sign that Miami was ready to clear the roster spot and let him look elsewhere.
For Toronto, it is another small reminder of how quickly infield depth can shuffle this time of year, especially for a player still trying to find his offensive footing. Jimenez now gets the chance to pursue opportunities with another organization before minor league free agency, while the Marlins close the book on a move that did not bring the bat they were hoping for. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Wild Card Pressure Is Rising At The Worst Time
The Blue Jays have quietly worked their way back into the American League Wild Card picture at just the right moment, with a four-game winning streak pushing them above .500 and into postseason position. It has been a steady climb rather than a splashy surge, but it matters in a race where every good week changes the conversation and every slip by a rival can reshape the bracket.
Torontos latest boost has come with Baltimore under heavy pressure, as the Red Sox piled up consecutive shutouts against the Orioles and tightened the heat in the AL East race. For a Blue Jays club trying to keep its own momentum intact, the timing is ideal. The chase is still crowded, and the margin for error remains thin, but Toronto has given itself a real seat at the table again. [Read more 🡒]