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Out of town scoreboard: Blue Jays keep pace with Guardians
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Photo credit: © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Aug 27, 2026, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 27, 2026, 10:32 EDT
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Wednesday’s slate of games went far better for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Not only did they defeat the Kansas City Royals thanks to a three-run home run courtesy of Nathan Lukes, but five of the seven teams they’re fighting for also lost. Unfortunately, the Cleveland Guardians weren’t one of those teams that lost, meaning the Jays still sit three games back of a wild card spot.
Let’s take a look at what went on during Wednesday’s games.

Out of town scoreboard for August 26

Starting with the Blue Jays, they rode a bullpen game to a 3-0 victory, as Spencer Miles, Brendon Little, Chad Dallas, Mason Fluharty, Paul Sewald, Tyler Rogers, and Louis Varland all pitched at least two thirds of an inning. All three runs in the win came with one swing of that bat, as Lukes hit his ninth home run of the season. They still went 1-5 with runners in scoring position, though.
That snapped the Royals’ nine-game winning stream, and the Jays will have a chance to complete the series victory with a win on Thursday. Spencer Arrighetti (4.73 ERA) is set to get the ball against Noah Cameron (4.02 ERA).
Two other teams will be in action on Thursday, the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros. The Orioles were one of the two teams in the wild card race to win on Wednesday, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 8-7. It wasn’t pretty, though, as they blew an early 7-0 lead before restoring their lead in the ninth inning.
The Orioles play the Cardinals in the series finale at 2:15 PM ET, with Trevor Rogers (4.14) expected to start for the American League East team. With the win, the Orioles still sit a half game ahead of the Blue Jays, but two and a half games behind the Guardians.
Unfortunately, the Guardians also won on Wednesday, meaning the Jays are still three games behind. Facing the Los Angeles Angels, the perennial basement dwellers jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings, but the Guardians chipped away at it and entered the top of the ninth down just one run. A Steven Kwan RBI tied the game, and a Travis Bazzana sacrifice fly gave them the lead, one they did not relinquish.
Hopefully, the Royals can get going again after Thursday, as they’re set to travel to Cleveland for a three-game weekend series against the Guardians.
The other team ahead of the Blue Jays that lost on Wednesday were the Texas Rangers, who fell 10-4 to the Chicago White Sox. Through three, the teams were tied a two, but the White Sox scored two runs in both the fourth and fifth, before a four-run inning in the sixth. The Rangers’ two-run seventh was far too little, far too late.
With the loss, the Rangers are 66-68, two games behind the Guardians for the final wild card spot, but a game ahead of the Blue Jays. That said, they’re also a half-game back of the Houston Astros for top spot in the American League West. They’ll be in Wisconsin this weekend to take on the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Astros also lost on Wednesday, falling 9-3 to the New York Yankees. They took the lead in the first, and the two teams were tied at three entering the bottom of the seventh. But the Yankees took over from there, putting a four-spot up that inning, then tacking on two more runs in the eighth.
Like the Blue Jays and Orioles, the Astros are back in action on Thursday to finish their series finale. Hayden Wesneski (4.23 ERA) is set to start for the 2017 and 2022 World Series Championship, while Gerrit Cole (3.11 ERA) goes for the Yankees. The game has a 7:05 PM ET start time.
The Blue Jays gained some separation over three teams, as the Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners, and Minnesota Twins all lost on Wednesday. Starting with the Tigers, they fell 3-0 to the Tampa Bay Rays, moving them five and a half games behind the wild card spot and two and a half games behind the Blue Jays. They’re off on Thursday, but host the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.
Their 2025 American League Divisional Series opponents, the Mariners, lost their series to the Philadelphia Phillies, dropping the rubber match 6-0. All six of those runs came in the first two innings as Jesús Luzardo pitched seven scoreless innings. The Mariners are now four games behind the Guardians and a game behind the Blue Jays, who they’ll face in Toronto this weekend.
Likewise, the Twins sit four games behind the Guardians and a game behind the Jays thanks to a 7-4 loss to the Athletics on Wednesday. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead and even had a 4-2 lead heading into the sixth, but the Athletics put up a four-spot. Former Blue Jays Michael Stefanic and Brian Severn each drove in a run. The Twins host the White Sox this weekend.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, DFOEdmonton, and DFOCalgary. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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