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Instant Reaction: Brewers win 2-1 again and take series from the Blue Jays
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Photo credit: © Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Aidan Sinclair
Apr 16, 2026, 19:30 EDTUpdated: Apr 16, 2026, 19:31 EDT
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For the second straight game, the Blue Jays’ bats went completely cold and were beaten by the small-ball approach of Milwaukee. After an explosive night on Tuesday, the offence couldn’t muster anything to support the pitching staff, ultimately losing the series and continuing their poor stretch of play. 
Patrick Corbin was on the mound Thursday for his second start in a Blue Jays uniform, after struggling his first time out against the Twins, allowing four runs and two home runs. Corbin cruised through his first three innings of work before Luis Rengifo cashed Brice Turang in the bottom of the fourth; the only run Corbin allowed in the game. Overall, he threw 5 2/3 innings and needed just 79 pitches, while allowing just one walk and striking out six in a much-improved second outing. 
Brandon Sproat took the ball for the Brewers and was solid all afternoon, nearly matching Corbin’s line with one walk, six strikeouts, and 75 pitches over 6 2/3 innings of work. He only allowed one run in the game, a Tyler Heineman sacrifice bunt that scored Andres Gimenez in the top of the third. That would be all for the Blue Jays offensively in this one. 
Tommy Nance was the first man up in the bullpen, finishing off the sixth inning behind Corbin, before beginning the seventh with a walk to Garrett Mitchell and a sacrifice bunt to Greg Jones. Joe Mantiply then entered the game and surrendered a bunt base hit to David Hamilton before Joey Ortiz laid down yet another sacrifice bunt, scoring Mitchell and giving the Brewers a 2-1 lead they would not surrender. 
Aaron Ashby, Trevor Megill, and Angel Zerpa all appeared in relief for the Brewers, combining to allow just two hits in 2.1 innings of work. For a second straight game, the Blue Jays were unable to generate any sense of offence against Milwaukee’s bullpen. 
The biggest takeaway from this series and what has undoubtedly been the biggest storyline of the 2026 season for the Blue Jays has been their offence.
In their last two games against the Brewers, they amassed just 11 hits and two runs, leaving 11 runners on base in the process. A pitching staff that had recently been struggling has delivered 16 innings over the past two games, allowing just four runs on 12 hits, yet it was still not enough for the Jays to pick up their second series win of the season. 
Though the team continues to deal with multiple injuries, those in the lineup regularly have simply been unable to produce, and it is costing them early in the season.
On Friday, the Jays travel to Arizona to begin a three-game set with the Diamondbacks, in hopes of turning the page towards their winning ways. Eric Lauer will be on the mound against Canadian Michael Soroka for a 9:40 pm EST start time.  

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