2025 is now the focus for the Toronto Blue Jays, and Daulton Varsho is one of those players who could be the difference maker on both offence and defence.
Varsho today hit a three-run home run to put Toronto up early and later scored Addison Barger on a sacrifice fly, as four of the seven runs the Blue Jays scored today in their 7-3 victory over the Texas Rangers were by the outfielder.
The Wisconsin native is looking to show Toronto why they made the right decision to trade for him during the 2022 offseason, and Varsho’s playing time will increase more once Kevin Kiermaier is off the roster.
After Varsho hit the home run, the walk-off hero in last night’s game, Ernie Clement, hit a single to cash in Alejandro Kirk.
Kirk’s playing time is going to continue to increase, as Danny Jansen is reportedly being traded to the Boston Red Sox. Kirk also drove in a run in the fifth to score Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Both Guerrero Jr. and Justin Turner continue to rake, as the two hitters collected three hits today. Turner is hitting .444 over the last seven games, which is an appeal to many contending teams looking for a solid contact hitter at the deadline.
While Turner’s been in the big leagues for nearly 15 years, another Blue Jays is just getting his Major League Baseball career started. Steward Berroa hit a double off Dane Dunning in the sixth inning for his first MLB hit.
Berroa also scored as a runner from a sac fly by Spencer Horwitz as the younger Blue Jays look to take advantage of more playing time.
Rangers SP Michael Lorenzen couldn’t get past the first inning, only getting two batters out, and allowed four earned runs on seven total base runners.
Toronto’s biggest win today may have been not having to use their bullpen, as Kevin Gausman pitched the full 9.0 innings today. Gausman carried the load on his back, throwing 118 pitches and only allowing three earned runs to let the Blue Jays rest their depleted bullpen, as another reliever today was traded.
Former first-round pick and reliever Nate Pearson is heading to the Chicago Cubs for two prospects.
Pearson, now 27, made his MLB debut for Toronto in 2020. The former starter turned reliever posted a 5.03 ERA in 115.2 innings throughout four seasons with the ballclub.
Toronto is getting minor leaguers Josh Riveria (ranked 23rd in the Cubs system by MLB Pipeline) and Yohendrick Pinango (ranked 29th in the Cubs system by MLB Pipeline).
Rivera, 23, is an infielder known for his shortstop defence, but he is struggling to hit in Double-A, with a batting average of .169 and OPS of .537.
Pinango, a 22-year-old outfielder, is the more intriguing hitter, as he had an OPS over .1000 in High-A in 2024 but has now struggled in Double-A since making the jump, only posting a .661 OPS in 55 games played.
Toronto scored seven runs for the first time in two weeks and has won their first series since July 9th-11th against the San Francisco Giants.
Blue Jays SP José Berríos (8-8, 4.08) takes on Texas with the chance to get Toronto’s second sweep of the year. Berríos lasted only 0.1 innings the last time he faced Texas on Opening Day in 2022.
