GDB 142.0: Off day for Bo Bichette as Toronto Blue Jays seek series win over Kansas City Royals

One day we’ll watch the Toronto Blue Jays put together a string of dominant performance after dominant performance after dominant performance et cetera, but yesterday sure wasn’t the start of it.

The Jays looked sluggish at the plate to start the game getting down 1-0 in the top of the thrid and not scoring their first run of the game until the bottom of the sixth.

A big bottom of the seventh sure changed things, but all-in-all it wasn’t exactly a performance that inspired a lot of confidence. Nonetheless, a win is a win is a win, and yesterday’s was more important given the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox — all clubs the Jays are slogging away in the AL wild-card race with — suffered losses.

The standings shift that followed saw the Jays gain 1.5 games on Texas and 6.0 on Boston for the second spot, while sneaking them in just one game back of Seattle for the second wild-card spot.

With Kevin Gausman on the mound today, the Jays will look to gain some more ground, but will do so without Bo Bichette. The club is opting to give him a day off here this afternoon, and it might not be the worst move.

First pitch: 3:07 p.m EST — Sportsnet, Sportsnet 650.

Toronto Blue Jays: 78-63, 11.5 GB, 11 E#, – WCGB, +74 DIFF.

Kansas City Royals: 44-98, 30.5 GB, E E#, 34.5 WCGB, -180 DIFF.

Moneyline: TOR -303; KCR +245.

*Odds at the time of publishing. Odds subject to change.

Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio as the crew talks about the Jays’ latest series against the Oakland Athletics.