Series Recap: A split with Atlanta!

For the first time since their June-opening series against Detroit, the Blue Jays weren’t involved in a sweep. They split their two-game series with Atlanta which ended a four-series streak in which the Jays either swept or were swept by the other team.
What happened?
On Tuesday, Jaime Garcia got lit up for five runs over just three innings pitched. The relievers who came in to mop the game up also got hammered. It was ugly. On the bright side, Canadian starter Mike Soroka didn’t throw a no-hitter. 11-4 Blue Jays.
On Wednesday, J.A. Happ pitched a nice game, going eight-and-a-third while allowing four earned runs (two of them were inherited runs in the ninth inning given up by Ryan Tepera). It was the first time all season a Blue Jays starting pitcher made it into the ninth inning. The Jays also managed to tee off a little bit on Anibal Sanchez, something that hasn’t happened to the veteran junk-baller much this season. 5-3 Blue Jays.
Things worth mentioning…
- This has to be the end of the line for Jaime Garcia in the starting rotation, right? Garcia has been ass for virtually the entire season and his last outing against Atlanta was terrible. Marcus Stroman is coming back soon and somebody has to be pulled from the rotation. Are you really better off tossing Garcia out there than you are giving Sammy G some more starts at this point?
- In more positive news, Randal Grichuk is now batting above the Mendoza Line! Given how horrendous his season started, it’s pretty incredible that Grichuk has already lifted his OPS to .718. He’s been pretty damn good since coming off the disabled list, so maybe that trade wasn’t so bad after all.
Up next…
The Jays will travel to Anaheim for a four-game series with the Angels. After that, they’ll head straight to Houston for a three-game series with the Astros.
Breaking News
- Free agent outfielder Max Kepler gets 80-game suspension for PEDs
- Former Blue Jays RHP Paxton Schultz claimed off waivers by Nationals
- MLB Notebook: D-backs’ Ketel Marte won’t be traded, Rob Manfred wants free agency signing deadline, Blue Jays returning to Sunday Night Baseball
- Outside a big bat, the Blue Jays’ biggest need is a left-handed leverage reliever
- 18 arbitration-eligible players fail to reach settlements ahead of 2026 deadline
