Blue Jays flip page from Monday's mess, earn decisive win over Pirates

New York Times

14 hours ago

PITTSBURGH — It may have been the messiest day of the Toronto Blue Jays' season.
The Jays committed three errors in Monday's 5-2 loss. Their relievers walked four Pittsburgh Pirates batters in three innings. Manager John Schneider got ejected, benches cleared, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. left with a hamstring injury. Then, hours after the contest, Pittsburgh outfielder Tommy Pham took to social media to weigh in on the spat that emptied dugouts and accused Addison Barger of steroid use.
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It was a blip, Schneider said. But it was the sort of chaotic contest that could've lingered into the next night. The fire of Monday's game and postgame could've carried over. So could unstable relief pitching, suspect defence or fear over Guerrero's hamstring. But the Jays were mostly able to leave it all behind in Tuesday's 7-3 victory.
Toronto talks often about turning the page — leaving sloppy play or outside noise in the previous night. Tuesday's win was a showcase of that subtle skill, one it'll need as October nears.
'In order to get to where you want to get to,' Schneider said, 'you have to be able to have a quick memory.'
It's an overused baseball phrase that the next day's starter controls momentum. For Toronto's page-turning win Tuesday, it was a three-run first inning that sparked things. The first five Blue Jays batters reached base, and the Pirates never recovered.
Mad Max has a 1.80 ERA this month.
Mad Max is a Toronto Blue Jay. pic.twitter.com/kUIZ9Y4c9h
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 20, 2025
The Jays were not flawless in the following innings, allowing Pittsburgh to snag extra bases multiple times. Toronto also ran into outs on the basepaths twice. But it was cleaner than Monday's mess — and clean enough to win. The Jays' relievers didn't walk any batters, Myles Straw stole two hits with flashy plays in centre, Max Scherzer provided his fifth straight quality start, and the offence tacked on extra scores.
Toronto's lineup tallied seven runs despite Guerrero's absence. Ty France supplied a hit subbing in for Guerrero at first base, but the Jays are now hopeful it won't be a long absence for their star slugger. MRI results showed 'just inflammation,' Schneider said. The manager called it a good result, and Guerrero felt better Tuesday, though he wasn't available off the bench. He'll be day to day but could return within the next few contests.
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'I think he was a little reassured,' Schneider said, 'as were we, with the results of the MRI.'
Before Schneider announced Guerrero's status, Barger addressed Pham's since-deleted tweets. Responding to an X user with Barger as their profile photo, Pham wrote Barger 'takes steroids' and later deleted the post. Barger was suspended during the 2019 minor-league season for stimulant use, not steroids, he told The Athletic. He served the suspension and continued his path to the big leagues. Barger has been tested for performance-enhancing drugs yearly since and has not faced further discipline.
After sharing his thoughts on the matter, Barger grabbed his bats, dragged them to the field and prepared for the latest contest amid his breakout season. The lefty slugger took his place back in the second spot of Toronto's lineup, walking and cashing in one of the Jays' early runs. Pham, held out of Pittsburgh's batting order, watched the loss from the bench. The drama was left behind.
Toronto's players and staff regularly talk about flipping the page. For the most part, they've executed. Last year, the Jays lost five games in a row three times. This year, just once. Monday's defeat was just the second time in the last 18 contests that the Jays lost consecutive games.
For Scherzer, the skill of ending skids is controlling the differences between a team's A-game and B-game. In the big leagues, Scherzer said, B-games lose. Schneider called it a focus on the importance of the next day. For outfielder George Springer, it's all about belief.
'You know, as a team, that you're better than the night before,' he said.
That ability — the short memory — has helped guide the Jays (74-53) to the top of the AL East, and it will be crucial come October. The Jays have lost consecutive playoff games in each of their last three postseason appearances. It resulted in a sweep every time. Leaving losses behind in short October series is the difference between easy exits and deep playoff pushes. But first, the Jays flip the page to Wednesday.
'This season is a grind,' Schneider said. 'It's the middle of August. Everyone's feeling it a little bit. You've got to come and play at 12:30 (ET) tomorrow. It's another test tomorrow.'
(Photo of George Springer gesturing to teammates after Tuesday's win: Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images)
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