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Series recap: Blue Jays squander great opportunity to gain ground on Yankees
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Photo credit: © Mark Smith-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Sep 8, 2025, 10:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 8, 2025, 09:28 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays missed a tremendous opportunity to gain some much-needed ground in their series against the New York Yankees.
Over the weekend, the Blue Jays played a three-game series in The Bronx against the Yankees, winning the first but dropping the next two. While it’s not as bad as it could have been, their division lead has been cut to just two (with the tiebreaker). Let’s take a look at what went on in this series.
It started great as the Blue Jays played one of their best all-around games of the season on Friday. Before the Yankees even had a chance to bat, the Jays had already put up three runs and took a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the second. The Yankees’ only run came in the bottom of the second, as the Jays went on to win 7-1.
On Saturday, the Blue Jays didn’t field their best lineup, and they paid for it, falling 3-1. The Yankees took a 2-0 lead, the Blue Jays cut it in half and attempted to send a runner to home to tie it, but Bo Bichette was thrown out shortly before a lengthy rain delay. When back, the Jays failed to score after an Isiah Kiner-Falefa lead-off double, and the Yankees added another run. In the end, the Jays were 1-10 with runners in scoring position.
Sunday’s game was another rough one when the Jays had runners in scoring position. Max Scherzer gave up a three-run home run in the bottom of the second, but the Jays stormed back to tie it in the top of the third. After running into some more traffic, Scherzer allowed a fourth run, which turned out to be the game-winning run in a 4-3 victory. The Jays were 2-12 with runners in scoring position in this game, making them 3-22 on Saturday and Sunday.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a great series, slashing .615/.615/1.000 with the team’s only home run in 13 plate appearances for a 357 wRC+. Nathan Lukes had 12 plate appearances and finished with a 126 wRC+, while Bo Bichette had a 316 wRC+ in nine plate appearances, and Ernie Clement had a 159 wRC+ in eight plate appearances.
All their other batters finished with a wRC+ below 100. Isiah Kiner-Falefa had a 94 wRC+ in seven plate appearances, Daulton Varsho had a 79 wRC+, Addison Barger had a 40 wRC+, and Alejandro Kirk had a 27 wRC+, all in 10 plate appearances. George Springer dominated the Yankees early in the season, but he finished with a 26 wRC+ in 13 plate appearances.
Tyler Heineman, Myles Straw, Ty France, and Davis Schneider all finished with a -100 wRC+, receiving between three and four plate appearances. Andrés Giménez had eight plate appearances with a -100 wRC+.
Pitching was strong for the Blue Jays. Beginning with the starters, Kevin Gausman went eight innings deep, giving up one earned run and picking up the win. Chris Bassitt gave up two unearned runs in five innings of work, and Max Scherzer pitched four and a third innings with four earned runs allowed.
Even their relief pitching was strong, as the Jays used just six relievers. Brendon Little had a great outing, striking out three of the four batters he faced.  Ryan Borucki pitched a scoreless inning and two-thirds, while Braydon Fisher pitched two scoreless innings. Yariel Rodríguez is back on track, pitched a scoreless inning and a third. Jeff Hoffman also pitched a scoreless inning. Louis Varland’s struggles continued, giving up an earned run in a third of an inning in Saturday’s game.
Next up for the Blue Jays is a three-game series against the American League West-leading Houston Astros. The Jays have to win two of three at the very least, but the Yankees also have a tough matchup against the Detroit Tigers.
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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