Bichette and the Blue Jays sweep Royals amid trade deadline chaos

In a series that is bound to be endlessly forgotten due to the circumstances under which it was played, the Blue Jays, one of the most active team’s at this year’s trade deadline, trounced the lowly Kansas City Royals in a series best described as “transparent” this week.

Led valiantly by Bo Bichette and the crop of young stars, the Blue Jays were sound at the plate and in the field, adjusting well to the onslaught of Royals pitchers and making quick work of a starved offensive team. Though it won’t be remembered amongst fans, the victories were surely great for Charlie Montoyo’s team.

Here’s a look at the good, the bad, and the weird from this week’s series in KC:

The young duo of Cavan Biggio (4-for-12, 5 R, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB) and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (3-for-9, R, HR, 5 RBI, BB) were solid in the series, while the recently called up Bo Bichette (6-for-13, 2 R, 2B, HR, RBI, BB) was tremendous, demonstrating an exceptional ability to cover the strike zone and run the bases with ease and elegance.

Elsewhere in the lineup, Freddy Galvis (3-for-9, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI) and Randal Grichuk (4-for-14, 3 R, 3B, HR, 3 RBI) were positively impactful while the trio of Teoscar Hernandez (3-for-11, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (1-for-4, 4R, RBI, 2 BB, SB), and Danny Jansen (2-for-7, 3 R, 2B, BB) all had good sets in their own rights.

On the mound, young starters Jacob Waguespack (6.0 IP, 3 H, R/ER, 2 BB, 2 SO, W), Sean Reid-Foley (5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R/ER, 4 BB, 4 SO, W), and Thomas Pannone (6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB, 4 SO) were all great, albeit while facing a lacklustre Royals offense. In the bullpen, Derek Law (1.0 IP, BB, SO) was solid, as were Justin Shafer (2.0 IP, BB, 0 H, 0 R/ER, 3 SO, SV) and Wilmer Font (2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R/ER, SO).

Brandon Drury (2-for-13, R, BB, 3 SO) and Billy McKinney (0-for-8, 0 TB, 3 SO) — the J.A. Happ trade package — struggled mightily, as did Justin Smoak (1-for-7, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SO), all of whom had rather forgettable sets.

During Wednesday’s crazy finale, reliever Daniel Hudson found out mid-game that he was being traded to the Washington Nationals, an experience that was chronicled hilariously by Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi in a column released shortly after the game.

Though depleted in terms of starters, the Blue Jays will head rather confidently to Baltimore for a four-game series starting on Thursday. Trent Thornton (3-7, 5.45 ERA, 100 SO) is the only announced starter for either team in any of the four games, though it’s likely that Thomas Pannone (2-4, 5.98 ERA, 47 SO) has earned himself another start, as has Jacob Waguespack (2-1, 4.80 ERA, 24 SO).