Series recap: Blue Jays’ bats cool down in series against Dodgers
Photo credit: © Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
Aug 12, 2025, 11:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 11, 2025, 21:32 EDT
After a sweep to begin their road trip, the Toronto Blue Jays hit a wall against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Blue Jays set records in a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies to begin the week, but ultimately dropped two of three against the reigning World Series champions, the Dodgers, as their bats went quiet for the first two games. With the series loss, the Blue Jays have now dropped three of their last four series and are 3-8 against non-Rockie teams in their last 11.
Friday’s game was a brutal one. With a runner on third in the top of the second, Addison Barger was able to hit a single to give the Jays an early lead. They loaded the bases with one out in that inning, but Myles Straw hit into a lineout double play. Max Scherzer gave up a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth, and Brendon Little gave up three runs in the bottom of the seventh in a 5-1 defeat.
Saturday’s game was similar, as the bats were cold (0-6 with runners in scoring position), and the starter had a solid game. This time, it was Chris Bassitt, who pitched four and two-thirds innings of three-run ball. Yariel Rodríguez retired the final batter in the fifth, but proceeded to allow four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Seranthony Domínguez allowed two in the same inning to give the Dodgers a 9-0 lead. Ernie Clement hit a home run in the top of the eighth to make it a 9-1 game.
Looking to avoid the sweep, the Blue Jays scored the first run on Sunday, but eventually the Dodgers added three runs. After a bloop RBI single by Ty France in the top of the sixth, the Jays took the lead in the eighth thanks to back-to-back home runs from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Addison Barger. The Dodgers tied it in the bottom of the eighth, Clement hit his second home run in as many games off the first pitch in the ninth, and Mason Fluharty had a legacy moment for the 5-4 win.
Starting pitching wasn’t great for the Jays. Scherzer had the best start, going six innings with two runs allowed, as he was tagged with a rather undeserving loss. Bassitt gave the Blue Jays a chance to win, but he allowed three runs in four and two-thirds innings of work. Eric Lauer pitched just three innings, giving up earned runs. He was the only starter not tagged with a loss.
Relief pitching was something. Fluharty was the sole reason the Jays won their game. Louie Varland pitched in two games and didn’t allow a run in two and two-thirds innings. Braydon Fisher did what he usually does in his inning and two-thirds, and Tommy Nance pitched another scoreless inning. The rest of their relievers? Well, that’s a different story.
After a week off, Jeff Hoffman walked five batters in just two-thirds of an inning, becoming the first recorded pitcher to win a game with five walks in under an inning. Domínguez gave up two earned runs in an inning and a third, Rodríguez gave up five earned runs and three walks in an inning of work. Little had a rough game on Friday, giving up three runs without retiring an out, but bounced back on Sunday, giving up no runs in an inning and a third.
The Jays’ bats were cold, especially through the first two games. Of the regulars, Daulton Varsho had the best series, slashing .375/.583/.375 for a 195 wRC+, with no home runs unfortunately. The good news is that he played all three games. Thanks to a home run, Guerrero Jr. finished with a .273/.333/.727 slash line for a 185 wRC+. Barger had a 176 wRC+ in his nine plate appearances.
Clement hit his seventh and eighth home runs of the season, half of the home runs the Jays had in the series. Their third baseman finished with a 170 wRC+. Ty France had another good series, slashing .364/.417/.455 with no home runs in 12 plate appearances for a 148 wRC+.
Bo Bichette had a tough series, slashing .167/.231/.250 for a 34 wRC+. Alejandro Kirk’s struggles continued, as he had a -68 wRC+ in the series. Davis Schneider slashed .286/.375/.286 in eight plate appearances, with a 96 wRC+. Nathan Lukes only received five plate appearances, where he finished with a single.
It’s a tough week for the Blue Jays, with their next series coming against the Chicago Cubs at Rogers Centre starting Tuesday.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.