Two months have elapsed since the Blue Jays have produced a series sweep, an extended stretch that has seen the team lose far too many games than post wins.
Given everything surrounding this group and the potential moves as Tuesday’s trade deadline approaches, a sweep is much sweeter than getting swept.
In the big picture, sweeping the Texas Rangers, the reigning World Series champions in name only, doesn’t carry much weight.
Again, it beats the alternative with any good vibe being better than lamenting an embarrassing setback or some walk-off loss.
Once again, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continued to rake at the plate, going deep in Sunday’s 7-3 win that gave him his 19th home run of the season and sixth in the past 10 games.
The Jays must pursue all options in signing Vlad Jr. to an extended contract with his current deal running through next season before free agency kicks in.
It’s also clear the Jays must surround Vlad Jr. with better players, which is easier said than done.
In Sunday’s series finale, the Jays were quite good, jumping out to an early lead and showing no signs of being caught in earning a well-deserved win.
Toronto ended its nine-game homestand by going 5-4, but two of three series would be lost.
It was the Jays’ first series sweep at home this season and the second overall since May 29 when they capped off their three-game stay in Chicago with a win over the hapless White Sox.
A Monday double dip in Baltimore awaits followed by Tuesday’s 6 p.m. deadline.
Daulton Varsho also went yard against the Rangers, while the Jays received a solid outing from Jose Berrios, who has not looked good in his most recent starts.
Despite the team’s struggles, fans continue to support the team with an announced crowd of 40,052 in attendance on a sun-splashed Sunday.
The Jays won’t be home until Aug. 6 when the Orioles come to town.
By then, it’s anyone’s guess how the Jays will look roster-wise.
Toronto did look good Sunday until Genesis Cabrera was summoned from the bullpen in the eighth inning, quickly allowing two runs, including a home run.
When he was lifted for Zach Pop, Cabrera left runners on second and third.
Pop induced an inning-ending groundout.
TEXAS TOAST
The Rangers made a pitching change with two outs in the first inning of Saturday’s game when starter Michael Lorenzen allowed seven successive base runners, including four runs on five hits and two walks.
Post-game, manager John Schneider revealed Kiermaier is dealing with a left hip contusion and is listed as day-to-day.
Not good.
Then came Sunday when the Rangers had to make a change before Jon Gray even threw a pitch.
One quickly knew something was amiss when the team’s trainer made his way to the mound.
Exit Gray and enter Jonathan Hernandez.
MLB has not seen a pitching change before a pitch was even tossed since 2016.
It was later announced Gray was dealing with right groin discomfort.
Hernandez gave up three runs on three hits, including Varsho’s second home run in as many games.
In the three combined first innings against the Rangers this series, the Blue Jays scored 10 runs.
In the second inning Sunday, Kevin Kiermaier laid down a clinical and fundamentally sound bunt to advance Addison Barger, who reached base on a lead-off single, to second.
Bunting has become a lost art in today’s game, but Kiermaier plays an old-school brand of baseball.
After a sac fly put Barger at third, the Jays left him stranded.
Barger started in right field with Kiermaier in centre and Varsho in left.
In the third inning, Barger’s two-run double extended the Jays’ lead to 6-0.
It was Barger’s third multi-hit game with the Blue Jays and his third double.
Strangely enough, the Rangers went with Lorenzen to start the fifth inning to take pressure off the bullpen.
The righty threw 40 pitches in Saturday’s start before being lifted.
He needed 14 pitches to retire the side in order Sunday.
Go figure.
Kiermaier, meanwhile, slammed into the padded wall in right-centre trying to chase down a sharply hit ball.
He came down grabbing his lower back, but Kiermaier remained in the game.
In his next at-bat, Kiermaier singled into right centre, but the look on his face when he reached first face indicated he was dealing with some obvious discomfort.
Steward Berroa then entered the game as a pinch runner for Kiermaier, whose back woes are not known for a veteran who has announced this will be his final season.
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CATCH(ER)-22
With Danny Jansen, who essentially grew up in the Jays’ organization, off to Boston in a deal that netted Toronto three prospects, the focus, at least one of many, shifts behind home plate and what moves are likely to be made when spring training eventually arrives in 2025.
For now, it’s all about Alejandro Kirk, who parlayed a good first half of a season in 2022 into an all-star berth.
Kirk has never shown he can play anywhere close to 100 games.
The only catcher on the Jays’ 40-man roster is Brian Serven, who, not surprisingly, rejoined the big-league club in the wake of Jansen’s trade.
Unless Kirk can prove he’s a legitimate stalwart at catcher, which many views as unrealistic, a catching tandem might be the best approach when the 2025 season ultimately begins.
In other words, the Jays will need to acquire a catcher at some point.
In fairness, he did go first to third, which might be a first for the slow-footed Kirk, before scoring on a sac fly in the sixth inning.
Kirk did work well with Berrios, whose batter mate has routinely been Jansen.
As a pending free agent, there’s always the remote possibility of Jansen returning, but that seems more pie in the sky.
Jansen, by the way, was linked to the Chicago Cubs when rumours first began to surface a few weeks ago.
The Cubs traded for Nate Pearson on the same day Jansen was dealt.
The addition of Jansen gives the Red Sox three catchers, including one-time Blue Jays backup Reese McGuire.
Weirdly, the Jays return to Fenway Park on Aug. 26 to resume a suspended game.
The Jays’ scheduled hitter before last month’s game went into a rain delay and later put on pause was Jansen.
Technically, if Jansen appears in next month’s game, he would have suited up for two teams in one game.