The season of mediocrity continued for the Toronto Blue Jays, as they fell 6-3 to the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.

Toronto took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 26th home run of the season with an absolute moonshot. Moreover, this home run matched his total from last season, and there’s an entire month left this season.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Vladdy with his 26th bomb of the year! 💪 <a href="https://t.co/GMQrCQ1zsi">pic.twitter.com/GMQrCQ1zsi</a>
&mdash; Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1825676804192977292?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Cincinnati tied the game in the top of the third thanks to an Elly De La Cruz sacrifice fly, but the Blue Jays restored their lead in the bottom half of the inning, as Daulton Varsho singled in George Springer. Once again, Cincinnati tied the game shortly after, as TJ Friedl hit his tenth homer of the season to knot the game back up at two.
The Reds took control of the game in the top of the sixth, scoring four runs on the Jays. Spencer Steer doubled in a run, Ty France doubled in two runs, before Jake Fraley also hit a double that scored a run.
Ernie Clement hit his eighth home run of the season in the bottom of the ninth, but the deficit was far too much for the Blue Jays to overcome, as the 6-3 loss brought their record to 58-67.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Ernie Clement&#39;s 8th homer of the season <a href="https://t.co/UnJzupSbI4">pic.twitter.com/UnJzupSbI4</a>
&mdash; Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1825709151609041243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<h2>Diving into the stats…</h2>
The fact that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. remains un-signed after the 2025 season is criminal negligence. After Monday evening’s home runs, the 25-year-old first baseman is slashing .317/.390/.552 with 26 home runs in 543 plate appearances. His 165 wRC+ is slightly below the 2021 season where he finished second in American League MVP voting.
Even if the Blue Jays enter a rebuild following the 2025 season, a very real possibility, re-signing Guerrero Jr. to a long-term extension will still draw fans into Rogers Centre.
Santiago Espinal made his return to the Rogers Centre to play his former team, finishing the game with a double in his four plate appearances. For the season, he’s slashing .253/.295/.386 with a career-high eight home runs in 265 plate appearances. It’s nice to see him do well.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Blue Jays fans show love to Santiago Espinal in his return to Toronto. 🥹 <a href="https://t.co/Gs5Qm9Gw0J">pic.twitter.com/Gs5Qm9Gw0J</a>
&mdash; Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1825680768674238753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Ernie Clement’s lack of power prior to the beginning of last season was well known, before hitting more home runs (12) in 2023 than he had in his entire four year professional career. Well, the power has seemingly translated to the big leagues, as he’s now hit eight home runs this year.
In total, the Blue Jays had six hits, with four being of the extra-base variety. George Springer hit his 17th double of the season and was later cashed in by a Daulton Varsho single. Moreover, Addison Barger hit his seventh double in the big leagues and just missed his fourth home run.  Will Wagner also had another hit, surprise, surprise.
The Blue Jays continue the three-game series on Tuesday, as they’ll look to avoid losing their second-straight series. José Berríos is scheduled to start against an undetermined pitcher for the Reds.
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As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

The season of mediocrity continued for the Toronto Blue Jays, as they fell 6-3 to the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.



Toronto took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 26th home run of the season with an absolute moonshot. Moreover, this home run matched his total from last season, and there’s an entire month left this season.

https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1825676804192977292

Cincinnati tied the game in the top of the third thanks to an Elly De La Cruz sacrifice fly, but the Blue Jays restored their lead in the bottom half of the inning, as Daulton Varsho singled in George Springer. Once again, Cincinnati tied the game shortly after, as TJ Friedl hit his tenth homer of the season to knot the game back up at two.

The Reds took control of the game in the top of the sixth, scoring four runs on the Jays. Spencer Steer doubled in a run, Ty France doubled in two runs, before Jake Fraley also hit a double that scored a run.

Ernie Clement hit his eighth home run of the season in the bottom of the ninth, but the deficit was far too much for the Blue Jays to overcome, as the 6-3 loss brought their record to 58-67.

https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1825709151609041243
<h2>Diving into the stats…</h2>
The fact that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. remains un-signed after the 2025 season is criminal negligence. After Monday evening’s home runs, the 25-year-old first baseman is slashing .317/.390/.552 with 26 home runs in 543 plate appearances. His 165 wRC+ is slightly below the 2021 season where he finished second in American League MVP voting.

Even if the Blue Jays enter a rebuild following the 2025 season, a very real possibility, re-signing Guerrero Jr. to a long-term extension will still draw fans into Rogers Centre.

Santiago Espinal made his return to the Rogers Centre to play his former team, finishing the game with a double in his four plate appearances. For the season, he’s slashing .253/.295/.386 with a career-high eight home runs in 265 plate appearances. It’s nice to see him do well.

https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1825680768674238753

Ernie Clement’s lack of power prior to the beginning of last season was well known, before hitting more home runs (12) in 2023 than he had in his entire four year professional career. Well, the power has seemingly translated to the big leagues, as he’s now hit eight home runs this year.

In total, the Blue Jays had six hits, with four being of the extra-base variety. George Springer hit his 17th double of the season and was later cashed in by a Daulton Varsho single. Moreover, Addison Barger hit his seventh double in the big leagues and just missed his fourth home run.  Will Wagner also had another hit, surprise, surprise.

The Blue Jays continue the three-game series on Tuesday, as they’ll look to avoid losing their second-straight series. José Berríos is scheduled to start against an undetermined pitcher for the Reds.

<hr />

As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. matched his 2023 home run total in the Blue Jays’ 6-3 loss to the Reds

The data supports that the Blue Jays bats struggle to produce power and hits with runners in scoring position

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) hits a double against the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth inning at Rogers Centre.

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