Scrub this past weekend’s series from existence.

In my four years covering the Toronto Blue Jays, I don’t think I’ve seen a worse series than they played against the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend. Coming into the series, they were coming off the high<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-series-recap-everything-clicked-for-jays-in-their-sweep-of-padres"> that was the series against the San Diego Padres</a>, but scored just two runs in three games against the Rays, while allowing 19.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="330" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="“web-content-promocard&quot;"></div>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-gdb-51-0-jays-look-to-get-back-in-win-column-against-rays">On Friday</a>, they fell 3-1 to the Rays to move back to .500. The Jays had just four hits in this game, with Jonatan Clase’s double being the only one of extra-base variety. Eric Lauer didn’t have a great start, giving up three earned runs in four and one-third innings pitched. Braydon Fisher continued to pitch well, striking out four in an inning and two-thirds, while Chad Green and Jose Urena pitched scoreless innings.
Saturday’s game finished with the same score as Friday’s, as the Jays actually outhit the Rays six to three, but ultimately were done in thanks to a three-run bottom of the first. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his seventh home run of the season in the top of the sixth, but the game was never close.
As for <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/instant-reaction-rays-defeat-toronto-blue-jays-13-0-complete-sweep">Sunday’s game</a>, well, there’s not much to say about it other than the Jays may not be good enough to contend for a postseason spot. Both their pitching and bats struggled, allowing 13 runs and finishing with three singles. With the loss, they dropped to two games below .500.
The good news is Anthony Santander has started to get going, slashing .333/.556/.333 for a 184 wRC+ in this series. Guerrero Jr. finished with a 161 wRC+ in 11 plate appearances, while Alejandro Kirk had the same wRC+ in eight plate appearances. Ernie Clement had a solid weekend, slashing .250/.455/.250 in 11 plate appearances for a 129 wRC+. Jonatan Clase hit a double, the only other extra-base hit the Jays had this past week.
With that said, it wasn’t a great week for most of the regulars. Daulton Varsho and Bo Bichette finished with a -100 wRC+. Addison Barger, George Springer, and Nathan Lukes also finished with a wRC+ in the negatives.
The Jays used five relievers (and position player Michael Stefanic) in the series. Mason Fluharty was the only one to give up an earned run, giving up four in Sunday’s game. Paxton Schultz gave up four runs, all unearned, in his four innings of work. Fisher still hasn’t given up an earned run, while Chad Green and Urena pitched scoreless innings.
Their starters gave the Jays a chance to win, at least in the first two games. Jose Berrios pitched six innings, giving up three earned runs. Lauer also gave up three earned runs, pitching just 4.1 innings. Chris Bassitt was taken out of the game in the fifth inning after giving up his third run of the game, with Fluharty allowing Bassitt’s last two baserunners to score.
Next up for the Blue Jays is a three-game series against the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/looking-back-at-the-blue-jays-and-rangers-rivalry-on-the-ninth-anniversary-of-the-punch">Texas Rangers</a>, starting on Monday.
<hr />
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Blue Jays Nation</a>, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Oilersnation</a>, and <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/author/ryley-delaney">FlamesNation</a>. They can be followed on Twitter <a href="https://x.com/Ryley__Delaney">@Ryley__Delaney</a>.
<hr />
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="324" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
&nbsp;

Scrub this past weekend’s series from existence.



In my four years covering the Toronto Blue Jays, I don’t think I’ve seen a worse series than they played against the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend. Coming into the series, they were coming off the high<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-series-recap-everything-clicked-for-jays-in-their-sweep-of-padres"> that was the series against the San Diego Padres</a>, but scored just two runs in three games against the Rays, while allowing 19.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="330" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="“web-content-promocard&quot;"></div>
&nbsp;

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-gdb-51-0-jays-look-to-get-back-in-win-column-against-rays">On Friday</a>, they fell 3-1 to the Rays to move back to .500. The Jays had just four hits in this game, with Jonatan Clase’s double being the only one of extra-base variety. Eric Lauer didn’t have a great start, giving up three earned runs in four and one-third innings pitched. Braydon Fisher continued to pitch well, striking out four in an inning and two-thirds, while Chad Green and Jose Urena pitched scoreless innings.

Saturday’s game finished with the same score as Friday’s, as the Jays actually outhit the Rays six to three, but ultimately were done in thanks to a three-run bottom of the first. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his seventh home run of the season in the top of the sixth, but the game was never close.

As for <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/instant-reaction-rays-defeat-toronto-blue-jays-13-0-complete-sweep">Sunday’s game</a>, well, there’s not much to say about it other than the Jays may not be good enough to contend for a postseason spot. Both their pitching and bats struggled, allowing 13 runs and finishing with three singles. With the loss, they dropped to two games below .500.

The good news is Anthony Santander has started to get going, slashing .333/.556/.333 for a 184 wRC+ in this series. Guerrero Jr. finished with a 161 wRC+ in 11 plate appearances, while Alejandro Kirk had the same wRC+ in eight plate appearances. Ernie Clement had a solid weekend, slashing .250/.455/.250 in 11 plate appearances for a 129 wRC+. Jonatan Clase hit a double, the only other extra-base hit the Jays had this past week.

With that said, it wasn’t a great week for most of the regulars. Daulton Varsho and Bo Bichette finished with a -100 wRC+. Addison Barger, George Springer, and Nathan Lukes also finished with a wRC+ in the negatives.

The Jays used five relievers (and position player Michael Stefanic) in the series. Mason Fluharty was the only one to give up an earned run, giving up four in Sunday’s game. Paxton Schultz gave up four runs, all unearned, in his four innings of work. Fisher still hasn’t given up an earned run, while Chad Green and Urena pitched scoreless innings.

Their starters gave the Jays a chance to win, at least in the first two games. Jose Berrios pitched six innings, giving up three earned runs. Lauer also gave up three earned runs, pitching just 4.1 innings. Chris Bassitt was taken out of the game in the fifth inning after giving up his third run of the game, with Fluharty allowing Bassitt’s last two baserunners to score.

Next up for the Blue Jays is a three-game series against the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/looking-back-at-the-blue-jays-and-rangers-rivalry-on-the-ninth-anniversary-of-the-punch">Texas Rangers</a>, starting on Monday.

<hr />

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Blue Jays Nation</a>, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/author/ryley-delaney">Oilersnation</a>, and <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/author/ryley-delaney">FlamesNation</a>. They can be followed on Twitter <a href="https://x.com/Ryley__Delaney">@Ryley__Delaney</a>.

<hr />

<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="324" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>
&nbsp;

Recent articles from Ryley Delaney

Breaking News