logo
Series Recap: Blue Jays suffer major setback in series loss to Tigers
alt
Photo credit: © Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Sep 18, 2026, 17:45 EDTUpdated: Sep 18, 2026, 17:44 EDT
Comments
The Toronto Blue Jays’ margin of error is essentially zero at this point.
With their playoff hopes dwindling, the Blue Jays hosted the Detroit Tigers for the penultimate home series this season. Entering Monday’s game just a game behind the Cleveland Guardians for the final wild card spot, things didn’t go according to plan.
The out of town scoreboard favoured the Blue Jays on Monday, as the Guardians fell to the Chicago White Sox, meaning that all the Jays needed to end the night in a playoff spot was a victory. They scored two runs in the bottom of the first, but the bases loaded in each the second and third innings.
It didn’t matter up to that point, as José Soriano carried a perfect game into the sixth before he finally issued a walk. Still throwing a no-hitter in the seventh, Soriano surrendered a lead-off single, then four more hits, leaving the outing with four earned runs given up.
However, the Blue Jays rallied back, as George Springer and Alejandro Kirk each hit singles, putting two on for Kazuma Okamoto. With two outs, the third baseman hit his 33rd home run of the season, by far the biggest home run the Blue Jays have hit this season.
It was all for nought, though, as Joe Mantiply allowed two singles in the top of the eighth, before Louis Varland allowed an RBI single for his second blown save of the season. Returning for the top of the ninth with the game tied, a lead-off walk came in to score after a stolen base and a two-bag error. Despite a lead-off walk of their own in the ninth, Kirk grounded into a double play to end the game.
The less said about Tuesday’s game, the better. Running out a bullpen day, the teams remained scoreless through three, but Michael Lorenzen gave up four earned runs in the fourth. It was downhill from there, as the Tigers picked up a 10-1 victory in the series. 
Even worse news is that the Guardians overcame a 6-5 deficit in the bottom of the ninth to win, moving them to two games ahead of the Jays. They also won their series finale against the White  Sox, scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 6-3 lead, the final score of the game.
That put pressure on the Blue Jays to win the series finale against the Tigers on Wednesday. They did just that thanks to some small ball, as only one of their nine hits were of the extra-base variety. All five runs scored in the 5-1 victory came thanks to RBI singles, sacrifice flies, or fielders choices.
They even got a strong start from Max Scherzer, who went five innings of one run ball, allowing just three hits and three walks for just his third win of the season. Varland completed the save, while both Mason Fluharty and Spencer Miles pitched in this game.
So here’s the situation entering Friday, the Blue Jays still sit two games behind the Guardians for the final wild card spot. They begin a three-game series against the Texas Rangers, who have an identical 76-77 and the tie breaker over the Jays.
There’s a lot of moving parts, as both the Guardians and Rangers are in contention for the top spot in their respective divisions. If the Guardians jump over the White Sox, that’s bad news for the Jays as the White Sox won the season series 5-1 over the Jays. If the Rangers jump over the Houston Astros, that tie breaker is still yet to be determined.
Essentially, the Blue Jays just need to find a way to win at least two of three in this series, as a series loss with just six games remaining is a wrap for their season.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, DFOEdmonton, and DFOCalgary. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
News
MORE NEWS. IN YOUR INBOX.
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Breaking News