Coming out of the All-Star break for the Toronto Blue Jays, they have now lost back-to-back games against the Detroit Tigers.
Toronto SP Yusei Kikuchi was making what could be his final start for the ballclub. Kikuchi signed a three-year deal with Toronto in 2022, and his contract is set to expire come the season’s end. Kikuchi will likely be traded before the July 30th deadline.
Kikuchi had faced the Tigers previously on May 26th, and in that start, the LHP allowed five earned runs in only 3.0 innings pitched.
While Kikuchi was able to strike out eight batters and last 5.0 innings today, the Tigers still managed to score four earned runs off the Blue Jays.
Andy Ibáñez hit a groundball down the 3rd baseline, and outfielder Daulton Varsho seemed to have trouble picking up the ball, which allowed Ryan Vilade to score, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the fifth. For Varsho, it’s his sixth error of the year and a rare mistake of his in the outfield.
Kikuchi was taken out in the sixth with the bases loaded, setting up Jake Rogers to face Trevor Richards. The Jays reliever had given up eight earned runs in his last 5.1 innings (14.2 ERA in that span). Toronto skipper John Schneider certainly could have gone to Ryan Burr or Yimi Garcia, but once again showed his bad decision-making.
Richards threw a fastball to Rogers that was cranked over the left field wall at Rogers Centre, breaking the game open for Detroit, as the game now was 5-0.
Ibáñez once again drove in another Tiger, hitting a single to make it 6-0 Detroit. A wild pitch from Brendon Little would force in Ibáñez later on in the inning, as Detroit now lead 7-0.
Richards was charged with three earned runs, retiring just a single batter. At this point, John Schneider needs to put Richards in blowout games, whether the Jays are winning or losing.
Toronto would finally strike back with their offence in the bottom of the sixth, as George Springer drove in a run. In his last seven games, Springer is batting .300, with six runs driven run.
The hottest Blue Jays right now, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., leaned into a breaking ball from Tigers pitcher Kenta Maeda, blasting a home run to centrefield and putting the Jays within four runs, still in the sixth inning.
Guerrero Jr., in his last seven games, has an OPS of 1.846, which is still only fourth best in that timeframe. The first baseman also has a home run in three straight games. Toronto fans were hoping Guerrero Jr. could return to his 2021 runner-up MVP form, and it’s looking that way.
Maeda was charged with three earned runs in 2.0 innings pitched today. Reese Olson made the start for Detroit today but came out of the game with a sore shoulder after the 2nd inning.
The games score didn’t change after the sixth inning, and Toronto dropped their second straight series. They have now lost four out of their last five games.
Toronto is now without Bo Bichette for the 2nd time this season, as the shortstop was placed on the 10-day IL before today’s game with a right calf strain, according to the Blue Jays. In Bichette’s place, Addison Barger got the call-up from Triple-A Buffalo.
While Toronto drops to 10 games below .500 (44-54), Detroit is now only one game under .500 themselves (49-50), winning 10 out of their last 12 games. Detroit is 5.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot and will likely not trade All-Star SP Tarik Skubal at the deadline.
The series wraps up tomorrow as Jays SP Kevin Gausman (7-8, 4.50) faces Tigers SP Keider Montero (1-2, 5.47).
