If you were watching last night and felt your heart sink a little deeper with each inning, you’re not alone. As a Toronto fan who has seen the ups, the downs, and everything in between, last night’s 7-1 loss to Boston was painful. Yet even in a game where almost nothing went right, there are still threads of hope to pull on.
That Game Felt Like a Warning Shot
Let’s just put it out there, that was Boston at their best and Toronto at their worst. Garrett Crochet was untouchable: eight shutout innings, six strikeouts, no walks, just business. Meanwhile, the Jays could only manage three hits all game.
Max Scherzer had a rough one with four runs, ten hits over five innings, and in a moment of frustration, Vlad Guerrero Jr. got ejected after arguing a strike call in the seventh, followed shortly by hitting coach Dave Popkins.
In short: we looked sloppy. We looked desperate. And Boston looked ready for October long before tonight.
What’s Going On Down the Stretch
Here’s where things get interesting (and nerve-wrecking):
- The Jays have lost six of their last seven. That’s not a slump; that’s a full dive.
- In all six of those losses, Toronto scored one run or fewer. The bats have essentially gone silent.
- The Yankees, meanwhile, have surged. They’ve won seven of their last eight, pushing themselves back into the thick of the AL East battle.
- After last night’s result, the Jays and Yankees are tied atop the AL East 90-68, but Toronto currently holds the head-to-head tiebreaker.
- Bonus drama: the Sox are also in the playoff picture, and they could complicate things in the Wild Card mix.
So when I say the margin for error is razor-thin, I mean it. A single misstep could cost us the top seed and the luxury of skipping the Wild Card round.
What the Jays Need Now (and Fast)
As a fan who’s been through this before, here’s what keeps me awake at night and what I’m hoping the team figures out in the next few days:
👎 Offense has to wake up. We can’t ride pitching alone. The bats have to produce with timely hits, clutch at-bats, anything to break the drought.
👎 Scherzer needs to bounce back. We need someone we can trust in the rotation.
👎 Done with mental lapses, drama, and plate appearances that end before they begin. Ejections and disputes are emotional, but they can also totally derail focus.
👎 Watch the Yankees. If they keep rolling, they could overtake us (even though we have the edge for now).
👎 Don’t sleep on Boston. If they get hot, they’ll sneak into a Wild Card spot and make life miserable.
👍 Let’s control what we can control. The Jays still own the tiebreakers versus Boston and New York. As of now, if tie situations arise, we win.
If I had one plea: play like it matters. Because tonight, it does!
Why I Still Believe (Yes, Even Now)
Look, I’m not trying to put a rosier spin on this than reality allows, but I’ve been a Jays fan long enough to know that October sometimes flips the script.
👍 We’ve already clinched a playoff berth (so the season’s not over).
👍 We still hold the tiebreaker over New York and Boston. That’s not nothing.
👍 If we can just shake off this funk and get two (or three) wins in a row, the momentum could tilt right back in our direction.
👍 Also, I have this deep, stubborn belief that when we hit October, we’re a different team.
So to my fellow fans: buckle up. I’m not saying we’re safe. I’m not saying we’re out of the weeds, but I’m not giving up either and neither should you.
We’ve walked through heartbreak. We’ve celebrated highs, and here we are again with the playoffs on the horizon. Let’s hope the next few games remind the Jays who they are and show everyone else who they can still be.
👏 Go Jays Go!👏
Let’s finish strong! 💪
