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Series Recap: Blue Jays benefit from strong starting pitch to take two of three from Guardians
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Photo credit: © Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jun 27, 2025, 08:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 27, 2025, 06:50 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays should’ve swept the Cleveland Guardians, but taking two of three isn’t bad.
After a disappointing series against the Chicago White Sox, where the Jays lost two of three against the basement-dwelling team, they were able to win the series against the Guardians, their seventh series win in their last nine. In the last series against the Guardians, the Jays lost two of three, with both games they lost being winnable.
On Tuesday, the Blue Jays defeated the Guardians 10-6 thanks to a massive grand slam from George Springer that put the Jays up 10-4. They needed those four runs. Eric Lauer had a good start as he has cemented himself as their fifth starter in the rotation.
Max Scherzer returned to the Jays’ 26-man roster ahead of Wednesday’s game. It was his first game since late March, and he was solid enough for the Jays to get the win, but a late home run from Lane Thomas (his second in as many games) tied the game, before Jose Ramirez walked it off in the bottom of the 10th.
The rubber match came on Thursday afternoon, with the Blue Jays shutting out the Guardians 6-0 thanks to two bases-loaded hits and two Guardian errors. Kevin Gausman was terrific in this game. This game almost had some fireworks, as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was hit by a pitch and was pulled. The Jays retaliated by hitting Ramirez, who was also pulled. Both benches were warned. You’ve got to love baseball.
Looking at the stats, let’s start with the starters. Lauer continued his impressive season, giving up an earned run in five and one-third innings pitched for a 1.69 ERA in his game. Scherzer wasn’t perfect, giving up three earned runs in five innings of work, but he was in line for the win before Thomas’ solo home run off Nick Sandlin. Thursday’s game was a fantastic bounce-back game for Guasman after a rough four starts in June. He went eight scoreless innings with just two hits allowed.
The Jays’ relief pitching wasn’t great. Jeff Hoffman pitched a scoreless inning, Brendon Little pitched two scoreless innings, and Braydon Fisher still hasn’t given up an earned run out of the bullpen, retiring both batters he faced. Chad Green, Sandlin, Paxton Schultz, Yariel Rodriguez, and Mason Fluharty all gave up at least one, with the latter having a particularly brutal series, giving up three runs (two earned) in a third of an inning.
Toronto’s hitting was a mixed bag, scoring 10 runs on Tuesday, but going 3-19 with runners in scoring position in the last two games. Funnily enough, all three of those hits with runners in scoring position were with the bases loaded, including Springer’s eighth career grand slam. He finished the series batting .556/.600/.889 with a 325 wRC+.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alejandro Kirk, Jonatan Clase, and Myles Straw all had strong series, finishing with a 177 wRC+ or higher, with all players registering nine or more plate appearances. Ernie Clement had an okay series, batting .200/.357/.300 for a 95 wRC+. The third baseman finished with the second-most plate appearances for the Blue Jays.
Bo Bichette had 16 plate appearances, the most for any Blue Jay in the series. Unfortunately, he finished with two singles for a -39 wRC+. Andres Gimenez didn’t have a great return to Progressive Field, finishing with a double and a single for a -1 wRC+. Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes also had a tough series.
The Jays look to build on their momentum as they head to Fenway Park for a three-game weekend series. Last time at Fenway, they took three of four from the Boston Red Sox in early April.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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