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Series Recap: Blue Jays pick up crucial series victory over Guardians
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Photo credit: © Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Sep 4, 2026, 07:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 3, 2026, 20:39 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays went to Ohio and did exactly what they needed to do to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Entering their series against the Cleveland Guardians, the Blue Jays sat a game and a half back of the Guardians for the final wild card. Winning the series was crucial for the Blue Jays, and they managed to do just that.
It didn’t start off great for the Blue Jays. On Tuesday, they opened the scoring in the top of the fifth, as Kazuma Okamoto came in to score after an unforced throwing error by catcher Patrick Bailey, as well as a wild pitch. That lead didn’t last long because after four scoreless innings, the Blue Jays’ bullpen game unraveled.
Bailey made up for his error and hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth. Two innings later, Ángel Genao hit a two-run shot, followed by a third two-run home run, this time off the bat of Ángel Martínez in a 6-1 victory.
Even if the Blue Jays’ bullpen day went as planned, they just couldn’t muster anything against Guardians’ starter Gavin Williams. Over seven dominant innings, the Guardians’ ace struck out 13 Blue Jays, a career-high. Spencer Arrighetti, Joe Mantiply, and Michael Lorenzen each gave up a two-run home run.
Thankfully, things improved from there as the Blue Jays didn’t need to face Williams in the final two games. Wednesday’s victory was a rout, as the Blue Jays shutout the Guardians 11-0. This was by far Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s best game of the season as well, a positive sign going forward.
The Blue Jays’ first baseman hit an RBI double in the first to make it a 1-0 game. In the second, the Blue Jays loaded the bases with just one out, but Brett Bateman grounded out, with the Guardians getting the force out at home. Up came George Springer, who hit a ground ball to Genao.
But for what feels like the first time this season, the Blue Jays benefited from their opposition’s miscue. Genao attempted to go the short way, but threw the ball over the second baseman’s head, cashing in two runs. Guerrero Jr. stepped up, and clobbered a curveball over the fence to give the Jays a 6-0 lead.
In the third, the Jays tacked on another run, then two more in the top of the sixth thanks to a Springer two-RBI double. With the game well out of reach, the Jays lifted their starters, which resulted in Josh Smith hitting a home run in his first plate appearance since coming off the injured list. They added another run with a position player on the mound.
With the offence playing as well as it did on Wednesday, the Blue Jays didn’t really need Dylan Cease to go six scoreless innings, but he did anyway.
That victory set up a crucial rubber match on Thursday. Again, the Blue Jays picked up the victory, The Guardians opened the scoring in the bottom of the third, by a clutch single by Sean Keys drove in the runner from second to tie it up. Then the Blue Jays scored four runs in the top of the fifth, as Nathan Lukes hit a bases-loaded double to drive in two runs. 
Two more runs were added before the end of the top of the fifth thanks to a Guerrero Jr. sacrifice fly and a Jesús Sánchez RBI single. Those two extra runs turned out to be crucial because the Guardians scored two runs in their half of the fifth.
Still 5-3 heading into the top of the ninth, Ernie Clement managed to hit a single to drive in another run for a third-run lead. Louis Varland entered the bottom of the ninth and was automatic for his 32nd save in 33 attempts.
Thursday’s win was a crucial win, because the Jays departed Ohio just a half game back of the Guardians for the final wild card, as well as owning the tiebreaker. Next up for the Jays is a three-game series on the road against the Kansas City Royals.
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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