Blue Jays sweep the Boston Red Sox, move into the second wild card spot
2 months ago
Baseball is a wild sport.
The Blue Jays post-season aspirations looked slim after a four-game sweep at the hands of the Texas Rangers on Thursday. Four days later, the Blue Jays now sit in the second wild card spot with a sweep of the Boston Red Sox, and a Texas collapse against the Cleveland Guardians.
Let’s take a look at the Blue Jays Nation’s Player of the Game, as well as some things worth mentioning.
Blue Jays Nation’s Player of the Game: Matt Chapman
Could it be anyone else?
When the Blue Jays were down by a run in the bottom of the ninth on Saturday, John Schneider decided to pinch hit Cavan Biggio for Matt Chapman, a move that worked off as Biggio scored the tying run.
The 30-year-old third baseman responded on Sunday, going 2-4 with two doubles, including the walk off run that scored Biggio.
Post-April has been rough for Chapman, as he has a sub-85 wRC+. Overall, he’s slashing .246/.335/.427 with 15 homers in 534 plate appearances for a 112 wRC+. His Sunday was a step in the right direction.
Things worth mentioning:
Cavan Biggio had another good game, surprise, surprise. On Sunday, he went 2-4 with a strikeout, along with getting on base in the bottom of the ninth (again). This season, he’s slashing .233/.331/.384 with nine homers in 284 plate appearances, but he’s been much better as of late.
Daulton Varsho is getting hot, which is not good for opposing teams. The 27-year-old outfielder hit his 17th home run of the season to put the Blue Jays up 2-0, and this was after hitting a triple Saturday to drive in the tying run in the bottom of the ninth. For the season, Varsho is slashing .219/.286/.377 with 17 homers in 540 plate appearances. This doesn’t even mention his 27 Defensive Runs Saved and 10 Outs Above Average.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s home run streak ended at three games, but he did hit a single Sunday. George Springer was the only other Blue Jay with a hit.
Hyun Jin Ryu made his ninth start of the season, finishing with a line of 4.2 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, escaping multiple jams. For the season, the 36-year-old lefty has a 2.62 ERA and a 4.18 FIP in 44.2 innings pitched.
The Blue Jays will have Monday off, before flying off to New York to take on the Yankees in a three game set. Afterwards, they’ll face the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
Depending on the results on Sunday, the Jays could be a game and a half up on Seattle, who’s on the outside looking in. Despite the fact they were just swept in a four game series against the Texas Rangers, they are a half game up on them as Texas was swept by Cleveland.
Baseball is wild.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @Brennan_L_D.
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