The Toronto Blue Jays can do no wrong at the moment. Facing former AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and a struggling Tigers squad, the Jays put together a full team win. Kevin Gausman held off the Tigers’ bats, the bullpen limited the damage, and the Jays found ways to get on base and score late to take a 6-1 win over their AL Central rival.

Gausman has been on a hot streak as of late and continued to showcase what he is capable of on the mound. The right-hander allowed just one hit on the day through six innings, putting up a zero on the board. He threw 96 pitches, collected 21 whiffs, and struck out 10 batters compared to just one walk on the day. The veteran starter had the Tigers’ bats all over the place, with 13 whiffs coming via the splitter while his slider, which he only threw 14 of in the game, collected five swings and misses as well.

The Colorado product didn’t allow a hit until the third inning, a single up the middle to Jake Rogers, but he was on cruise control for most of the day. He didn’t earn the win because of the bats finding a late rally, but it was another strong start for Gausman, who lowered his ERA to 3.82 on the season.

The trio of Braydon Fisher, Tommy Nance, and Mason Fluharty allowed just one hit through the next three innings, with Nance allowing a single to Rogers (the Tigers’ de facto top bat that game), who then advanced to third base on defensive indifferences, and a groundout to Riley Greene allowed him to score.

Tarik Skubal for the Tigers was his normal self, allowing just five hits and three walks while striking out seven Blue Jays hitters, a team known for avoiding the K’s. The Jays almost put a run on the board in the top of the fourth inning after a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. single and a Bo Bichette double, but Guerrero would get picked off at third base, and Addison Barger would ground out to end the inning. Toronto also threatened in the top of the sixth inning as well with the bases loaded. Tyler Heineman dunked a ball into centre field, but Springer was caught too far back up the line at third base and would be tagged out at home on the play. Barger would strike out again to end the frame.

The Jays’ bats started to find a groove in the top of the eighth with reliever Will Vest now in the game. Joey Loperfido and Springer both singled to put runners on early, and a wild pitch from Vest put both in scoring position. Guerrero would ground out to third base to put one out on the board with zero runs plated, but Bichette picked up his teammate by poking a ball through the right side of the infield. Loperfido would cross home for the first run, and Springer would score as well, with Wenceel Perez’s throw home being offline and credited as an error.

Toronto would add some insurance runs in the ninth inning as well, with Nathan Lukes hitting a two-run shot over the right field wall to make it 4-0. The left-handed bat drove a hanging Chase Lee sweeper 387 feet into the stands. With two outs on the board, Springer added a solo shot of his own to the scorecard, sending an 87.5 MPH sinker the opposite way over the outfield walls. Looking to end the night on a positive note, Guerrero also notched a solo home run, driving a hanging inside sweeper 105.3 MPH over the left centre field walls, an easy no-doubt shot. For a team that doesn’t hit a ton of home runs, the Jays were able to notch three round-trippers in one inning against the Tigers’ bullpen.

The Jays also had to deal with Alejandro Kirk’s departure mid-game, with the backstop leaving due to a concussion. Tyler Heineman was thrust into action and the Jays have yet to announce if Kirk will head to the IL.

With the win last night, the Jays will go for the sweep against Detroit down at Comerica Park. Max Scherzer, who turns 41 today, will face his old team while the Tigers will send right-hander Jack Flaherty to the mound to try and reverse their losing ways. Toronto now holds a 6.5-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East standings.