Daulton Varsho fumbles a line drive from Miguel Vargas and the White Sox are on the board. 1-0 Chicago. 🎥: Sportsnet | #BlueJays50
Instant Reaction: Blue Jays swept for the first time since June 2025 in disappointing series against White Sox
Photo credit: © Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Apr 5, 2026, 17:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 5, 2026, 17:11 EDT
The 2026 Toronto Blue Jays are quickly starting to look like the 2024 Blue Jays.
On Sunday afternoon, the Blue Jays played the third and final game looking to avoid a series sweep at the hands of the Chicago White Sox. They were unable to do that, falling 3-0 to a team that had just one win heading into this series. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one.
For the third consecutive game, the White Sox opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. With Eric Lauer on the mound, Chase Meidroth hit a lead-off double, and he was moved to third on a ground out. Lauer got the next out, but Miguel Vargas drove in that run with an RBI triple.
The Blue Jays’ first chance to score came in the top of the third. Andrés Giménez drew a lead-off walk, and Brandon Valenzuela notched his first hit of his career with a single to put runners on the bases with no outs. It seemed like a prime chance to at least tie the game with the top of the lineup, but George Springer flew out, Nathan Lukes grounded out, and after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walked, Addison Barger grounded out to end the inning. More on that in “takeaways”.
Toronto failed to score in the top of the third, and they were punished in the bottom of the third, as the White Sox added a second run. Lauer’s final batter, Munetaka Murakami, walked, and after Austin Voth got the next two outs, Lenyn Sosa doubled in the second run.
In the bottom of the fourth, Luisangel Acuña led-off with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and was cashed in with a two-out RBI single by Austin Hays. But by this point in the game, the White Sox didn’t need the run as the Blue Jays’ offence was lethargic.
Austin Hays cashes in Acuña from second. 3-0 Chicago. 🎥: Sportsnet | #BlueJays50
For example, the Jays got two consecutive singles to lead-off the top of the seventh, but a Giménez lineout and strikeouts from Valenzuela and Springer ended the threat again. They had one more baserunner, as Kazuma Okamoto drew a lead-off walk in the top of the ninth. He was left stranded with two pop-ups and a strikeout.
Takeaways…
With the bases loaded, Addison Barger attempted to run out a ground ball. He lunged for the base and appeared to be in discomfort. Later in the game, he was pulled with “bilateral ankle discomfort”. I’m not a doctor, but let’s hope that isn’t serious as they’re already without Alejandro Kirk for a while on the offensive side of things.
UPDATE: OF Addison Barger was removed from today's game with bilateral ankle discomfort.
All six of the Blue Jays’ hits were singles. Ernie Clement hit two of them, while George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Daulton Varsho, and Brandon Valenzuela all noticed a single of their own. The issue in this game was failing to hit with runners in scoring position, going 0-6 with eight runners left on base.
BRANDON VALENZUELA SMACKS ONE INTO RIGHT FIELD FOR HIS FIRST MAJOR LEAGUE HIT IN HIS FIRST AT BAT! 🎥: Sportsnet | #BlueJays50
It wasn’t much better in the other two games either. Friday’s loss saw the Jays go 1-9 and Saturday’s loss saw them go 1-7. As a whole, they were 2-22. Just not nearly good enough considering they were one of the best teams with runners in scoring position last season.
Their pitching was fine enough in this game. Eric Lauer, who had his start pushed back a day, went 2+ innings with two earned runs and three walks allowed. He clearly wasn’t at his best, and playing baseball while sick isn’t easy. Hopefully, he’ll be better in his next turn.
Austin Voth made his big league debut, going two and two-thirds innings with an earned run allowed. He was just here to eat a few innings and did well enough. Joe Mantiply was also called up before the game, and he looked great. Over an inning and a third, the left-handed pitcher faced four batters and struck out three of them. Spencer Miles pitched two innings, allowing two hits and striking out two.
Next up for the Blue Jays is a 2025 World Series rematch against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This was the team that beat them in heartbreaking fashion, and the Jays will need to take at least two games from them. If not, it’s easy to see this season starting to snowball in the worst kind of way.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
Breaking News
- Instant Reaction: Blue Jays swept for the first time since June 2025 in disappointing series against White Sox
- A deeper look at the Blue Jays closer situation in 2026
- Blue Jays: Learning more about relievers Joe Matinply and Austin Voth
- What the Blue Jays are getting in Brandon Valenzuela
- Blue Jays Gameday (April 5): Toronto looks to snap three-game losing streak