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Instant Reaction: Blue Jays fall 7-4 to Rangers after allowing another first inning run
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Photo credit: © Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jun 27, 2026, 19:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 27, 2026, 19:27 EDT
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The wheels have almost completely fallen off for the Toronto Blue Jays.
On Saturday afternoon, the Jays played the third of four against the Texas Rangers, dropping a 7-4 decision to extend their losing streak to five and bringing their record to 39-44. It was yet another disappointing performance for a team that reached .500 on Monday. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one.
Unsurprisingly, the Blue Jays surrendered a run in the top of the first before they even had a chance to bat. Dylan Cease struck out the first two batters, but a pair of walks brought Jake Burger to the plate. His fly ball, which came off the bat at 75.2 mph, landed right in front of a sliding Yohendrick Piñango to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead.
Cease got out of the inning, then threw a scoreless second, third, and fourth, before running into some more trouble in the fifth. Two of the first three batters struck out, but Brandon Nimmo hit a two-out single to put two on. Burger drove in another run, and Cease was replaced by Mason Fluharty.
Unfortunately, the two runners on base were Cease’s responsibility, so them coming into score resulted in a line of 4.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 5 BB, 10 K, bringing his season ERA to 3.02. Fluharty was tagged with two earned runs against. After the top of the fifth, the Rangers led 6-0.
The Jays finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth, as Ernie Clement led off the inning with a double. Piñango followed, hitting a no-doubter for his fifth of the season. Still in the bottom of the fifth the Jays had two more base runners, but back-to-back strikeouts stranded them.
Braydon Fisher replaced Fluharty, giving up a two-out home run to give the Rangers a 7-2 lead. Alejandro Kirk responded to lead-off the bottom of the sixth, blasting a solo home run for his second of the season. Sean Keys immediately followed with his first career hit, a single, and he eventually came in to score.
The Jays brought the game-tying run to plate, as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stepped up with two on and two out. With a 2-1 count, what you likely think happened, happened, stranding both base runners to end the inning.
It was the closest that the Jays got, as the Rangers struck out the side in order in the seventh, then also faced the minimum in both the eighth and ninth inning. Fittingly, Guerrero Jr. grounded out for the final out, seeing the Jays record drop to 39-44.

Takeaways…

We have to discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr. By going 0-5, Guerrero Jr.’s wRC+ now sits at 98. Remember, the Jays are paying him $500 million. That is not great, but slumps happen. What’s more concerningly is what happened in his second plate appearance.
In the bottom of the third, Nathan Lukes hit a one-out single, an important base runner for a team down 1-0. Guerrero Jr. stepped up to the plate, swinging at a first pitch and smashing it into the ground. The shortstop, Corey Seager, bobbled it, but was able to throw out Guerrero Jr. since he wasn’t giving it all out of the box
Had Guerrero Jr. ran a hard 90 and reached safely, who knows what would have happened. Two on with one out is much better than a runner on second and two outs. Overall, it was really just a poor game by the Blue Jays’ first baseman.
Kazuma Okamoto had a pretty poor game as well, striking out in all four of his plate appearances. However, he’s essentially carried this offence all season, so he gets a pass. Daulton Varsho and Alejandro Kirk each struck out twice as well.
At least Kirk hit a home run, his first since his game-tying blast in the bottom of the ninth all the way back in the opening series in March. Since returning from his thumb injury, Kirk hasn’t been great with the bat, but at least this is a sign of life.
Before the game, Yohendrick Piñango and Sean Keys were added to the 26-man roster. The former hit his fifth home run of the season to score the Jays’ first runs of the game, while Keys notched his first career hit in the following inning. Both players deserve an actual look in the big leagues, because most of their everyday starters just aren’t getting it done.
It was a tough start for Dylan Cease as well. The Jays got the inefficient version of Cease, throwing 107 pitches in just four and two-thirds innings. While his 10 strikeouts are impressive, he walked five and gave up four earned runs, not great.
Aside from Mason Fluharty and Braydon Fisher, the Jays bullpen was solid. Tommy Nance allowed two hits in a scoreless inning, striking out two. Jeff Hoffman and Tyler Rogers each pitched scoreless innings as well.
After 83 games in 2024, the Jays had a 39-44 record, just like the 2026 Blue Jays do. The 2024 Jays ended up selling before the trade deadline, and this year’s team is trending in that direction as well thanks to this five-game losing streak. Something needs to change over these last four home games.
Next up is the series finale against the Rangers, with Shane Bieber set to make his second start of the season. Sunday’s game has a 1:37 PM ET start time.
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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