Flying High: Toronto Blue Jays on upswing entering home series against Phillies
TORONTO – A visit by the woeful Athletics came at an ideal time for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Canada's lone big-league team was in a tailspin before finding its form last week. Toronto has won five in a row and sat a half-game out of an American League wild-card spot entering Monday's games.
The Blue Jays, who were idle Monday, will continue their homestand Tuesday night against the 36-23 Philadelphia Phillies, a team they will play six times over the next fortnight.
OFFENCE CLICKING
After managing just six runs over a six-game road trip, the Blue Jays kicked off their current homestand by scoring a whopping 39 runs over a four-game sweep of the A's.
Addison Barger homered in three straight games over the weekend as Toronto went deep 11 times over the series.
The Blue Jays have been getting contributions up and down the lineup of late. Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer and Alejandro Kirk have anchored the top half of the batting order.
Barger, Ernie Clement, Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw and Jonatan Clase — all hitting at least .267 — have helped turn the lineup over with timely hitting.
However, two of Toronto's big-ticket acquisitions have struggled this season. Andres Gimenez and Anthony Santander, both on the injured list, have sub-.200 averages with OPS marks under .600.
BULLISH BULLPEN
One of Toronto's most-improved areas is the bullpen, which is ranked ninth in the major leagues with a 3.47 earned-run average.
That's down significantly from the bullpen's 4.82 ERA in 2024, the second-worst mark among the 30 teams.
With setup man Yimi Garcia on the injured list, Brendon Little (3-0, 1.37), Mason Fluharty (3-1, 3.33), Chad Green (1-1, 3.91) and Yariel Rodriguez (0-0, 2.73) have stepped up in his absence.
Closer Jeff Hoffman has earned 13 saves in 16 opportunities. His three blown saves have boosted his ERA to a rather bloated 5.81.
SO-SO STARTERS
Injuries and middling performances have led to a starting rotation that has been serviceable but capable of much more.
Veterans Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt have been steady with the three right-handers posting remarkably similar numbers (all between 3.80-3.90 ERA, 66-70 IP and 65-70 strikeouts).
Bowden Francis (2-6, 5.04) has been unable to duplicate his strong second half from 2024, and Max Scherzer has pitched only three innings due to a thumb issue.
Scherzer's absence has forced manager John Schneider to turn to spot starters and openers, often for so-called bullpen games.
The good news for the Blue Jays is Scherzer is throwing live bullpen sessions now, and Alek Manoah (elbow surgery) could make his season debut this summer.
INJURED VARSHO
After missing the first few weeks of the season as he built up after shoulder surgery, Daulton Varsho delivered an immediate spark to the lineup when he returned.
The Gold Glove centre-fielder provided stellar defence and hit eight homers with 20 RBIs over 24 games before landing back on the injured list.
Varsho strained his left hamstring over the weekend while trying to stretch a double into a triple. He's out on a week-to-week basis.
Utilityman Davis Schneider was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to fill in.
NUMBERS GAME
Winnipeg Jets Game Days
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.
It's early days with almost two-thirds of the season still to go, but the 31-28 Blue Jays appear to be a coin flip to make the post-season.
Baseball Prospectus' PECOTA standings peg Toronto's playoff chances at 48.6 per cent, slightly ahead of FanGraphs' projections at 43.1 per cent.
Cleveland started the day in the American League's first wild-card spot at 32-26. Toronto was one of five teams within 2 1/2 games of the Guardians.
The Blue Jays made the playoffs in three of four years before finishing last in the East Division standings in 2024. Toronto hasn't won a playoff game since 2016.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
7 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Phillies take on the Blue Jays after Bohm's 4-hit game
Philadelphia Phillies (37-23, second in the NL East) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (31-29, third in the AL East) Toronto; Wednesday, 7:07 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Phillies: Mick Abel (0-0); Blue Jays: Jose Berrios (2-2, 3.86 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 65 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Blue Jays -112, Phillies -107; over/under is 9 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Phillies play the Toronto Blue Jays after Alec Bohm had four hits against the Blue Jays on Tuesday. Toronto has a 31-29 record overall and a 20-13 record at home. The Blue Jays have the sixth-ranked team slugging percentage in the AL at .395. Philadelphia has gone 18-11 in road games and 37-23 overall. The Phillies have gone 15-7 in games when they did not give up a home run. The teams match up Wednesday for the second time this season. TOP PERFORMERS: George Springer has 12 doubles, a triple, eight home runs and 24 RBIs for the Blue Jays. Addison Barger is 11 for 35 with two doubles and four home runs over the last 10 games. Kyle Schwarber has nine doubles, a triple and 19 home runs for the Phillies. Bohm is 14 for 42 with a double and two home runs over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Blue Jays: 6-4, .273 batting average, 4.03 ERA, outscored opponents by two runs Phillies: 5-5, .229 batting average, 5.24 ERA, outscored by 12 runs INJURIES: Blue Jays: Daulton Varsho: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Anthony Santander: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Yimi Garcia: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Max Scherzer: 60-Day IL (thumb), Ryan Burr: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Nick Sandlin: 15-Day IL (back), Alek Manoah: 60-Day IL (elbow), Angel Bastardo: 60-Day IL (elbow) Phillies: Bryce Harper: day-to-day (elbow), Aaron Nola: 15-Day IL (ankle) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Winnipeg Free Press
11 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Cool Jazz back at Yankee Stadium as Chisholm's homer sparks New York to 3-2 win over Cleveland
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees had been missing their cool Jazz. Sidelined since April 29 by a strained right oblique, Jazz Chisholm Jr. drove Tanner Bibee's first pitch of the seventh inning toward the right-center stands. He shuffled up the first-base line, holding his bat, convinced it was a tiebreaking home run. And it was, barely, caught by a fan in the first row, 358 feet from home plate. 'Our hitting coach told me a story about Reggie Jackson,' Chisholm said after Tuesday night's 3-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians. 'He hit a homer that barely went over the fence. And he was like, `Hey, Reggie, how did you know that was gone?' And he's like, `Well, I hit 567 (actually 563) of them.' So I told my coach, my story is that I've hit 1,000 homers in my dreams, so I had to know that one was gone, right?' Chisholm went 2 for 3, also blooping a fifth-inning single for the Yankees' first hit and scoring on DJ LeMahieu's single. Anthony Volpe went deep six pitches after Chisholm, giving New York back-to-back homers for the fifth time this season. 'Honestly, I pictured a 3 for 3, but I'd take a 2 for 3,' Chisholm said. He returned to third base, his position with the Yankees last year, after making 29 starts at second through April 29, when he got hurt at Baltimore. New York manager Aaron Boone decided to leave LeMahieu at second, where he's started since coming back from a spring training calf injury on May 13. Chisholm didn't complain about the position switch and gushed: 'This is my favorite organization I've ever been a part of.' 'I just want to win. I want a ring,' Chisholm said. 'You got (Aaron) Judge. You got Volpe, and they come and talk to you and when you have such a good relationship with the manager, I mean, you don't mind doing anything for a guy that you have a good friendship with.' An All-Star with Miami in 2022, the 27-year-old played middle infield for the Marlins from 2020-22, was moved to center field from 2023-24, then inserted at third when the Yankees acquired him in a trade last July 27. 'Everyone's really pumped for him and happy for us that he's back helping us,' Volpe said. 'He's just so smooth and has such a great arm that you can play wherever you want to play with him over there.' Wearing a baby blue, 11 1/2-inch glove from his own company, Absolutely Ridiculous Innovation for Athletes (ARIA), Chisholm grabbed Ángel Martínez's grounder down the line in the third and made a strong one-hop throw to first from foul territory for an inning-ending out. The glove is intended to be used for Father's Day on June 15 and Chisholm started to break it in during three rehab games last week at Double-A Somerset. 'Sometimes you catch the ball over there at third base and you look at the first baseman and you're like, wow, he's pretty far,' Chisholm said. He is batting just .194 with eight homers and 18 RBIs. But in addition to his bat and glove, Chisholm adds a vivacious personality. 'Really excited to have him back and good to see him have that kind of impact right away,' Boone said. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Devin Williams, back as closer after Luke Weaver strained a hamstring, allowed Carlos Santana's one-out double and pinch-hitter Daniel Schneemann's two-out RBI single in the ninth, then retired Bo Naylor on a flyout for his sixth save as AL East-leading New York won for the 11th time in 14 games. During spring training, Boone and the Yankees talked of Chisholm combining with Volpe, the third-year shortstop, on an exiting double-play combination. 'I really thought I was done at third base,' Chisholm said. 'I thought I left my career over there with a good stamp, but I guess we're back again. We got to shine again. We can't let that reputation go down at third base.' ___ AP MLB:
Winnipeg Free Press
12 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Starter Bowden Francis records only five outs as Phillies dump Blue Jays 8-3
TORONTO – Toronto starter Bowden Francis started his outing Tuesday with a four-pitch walk and it went downhill from there. Trea Turner and Bryce Harper followed with solo homers as the Phillies stormed out to a six-run lead — sending 11 batters to the plate — en route to an 8-3 victory that ended Toronto's five-game winning streak. 'It looked like they were on his fastball and you've got to make some adjustments when you see that,' said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. 'I think it just came down to location really.' The game was essentially over 10 minutes after the first pitch, spoiling an idyllic spring evening for the 32,632 spectators on hand in the opener of the three-game series. Francis emerged as a feel-good story last season with a dominant second half but he has been unable to carry that over into the 2025 campaign. The right-hander recorded only five outs and has dropped his last five decisions. 'They came out aggressive,' Schneider said. 'A lot of these guys can handle the ball out over (the plate). But I think it was just kind of mislocation. They were on his fastball.' Over his final eight starts last year, Francis went 4-2 with a 1.33 earned-run average. His 0.60 WHIP (walks/hits per inning pitched) after the all-star break was the lowest single-season post-all-star game WHIP (minimum 10 starts) in big-league history. Francis flirted with no-hitters on more than one occasion and was a real bright spot for a team that finished last in the American League East division. He has shown flashes of that form this year but has only made it past the sixth inning in one of his 12 starts. Francis was not made available after the game to speak to reporters. Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt have anchored a starting rotation that is missing Max Scherzer (thumb), who's still likely at least a few weeks away from returning. Manager John Schneider has already been forced to use spot starters and bullpen-game openers for that vacant position in the rotation. A steadying presence in the fourth spot would be most welcome for a 31-29 team trying to stay above the .500 mark. Francis (2-7) allowed seven hits, six earned runs and two walks over his 58-pitch outing. He struck out a pair. Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez held the Blue Jays to four hits and one earned run over six innings as Philadelphia (37-23) ended its four-game losing skid. Turner added another homer in the eighth for his first multihomer game of the season. The Phillies outhit the Blue Jays 11-5. Davis Schneider and Addison Barger homered for Toronto. Long reliever Eric Lauer allowed just a single walk over four shutout innings. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Barger, who hit a two-run shot in the eighth, became the first Blue Jay to homer in four straight games since Teoscar Hernandez in August 2021. 'He's talented, and I think he's comfortable with how he's approaching each at-bat,' Schneider said. 'So we've seen the tools for a couple years. And this is a pretty good run that he's on.' Before the game, the Blue Jays reinstated second baseman Andres Gimenez (quad) and backup catcher Tyler Heineman (concussion) from the injured list. Infielder Michael Stefanic and catcher Ali Sanchez were designated for assignment. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 3, 2025.
