Better, but still nothing to show

TORONTO The sign on the Blue Jays locker-room wall says Get Better Every Day.

But while there were some positives in Toronto’s play Wednesday, once again they did not pay off as the Jays’ early-season tailspin continued.

Milwaukee starter Chase Anderson gave up three hits in seven innings to help the Brewers (4-5) blank Toronto 20, handing the Blue Jays their seventh loss in eight games this season.

Toronto (1-7) saw its worstever start get a little worse before 29,919 at Rogers Centre. It was Toronto’s fifth straight loss, a stretch that has seen the Jays outhit 48-28.

Asked what he was seeing in Toronto’s offence, third baseman Josh Donaldson replied: “I’m not seeing much.”

“I’m not here to make excuses for myself or for anybody else on the team,” he added. “We have to figure something out and the sooner the better.”

The last time Toronto was six games under .500 was June 2, 2015 (24-30). On the plus side, the Jays went on win the AL East that year with a 93-69 record and came within two wins of reaching the World Series.

The Jays have been held to three or less runs five times this season, losing every time. Four of their seven losses have been by one run.

“I believe this is the best offence in baseball. I know it is,” said starter Marcus Stroman, who took the complete-game loss. “It’s just a matter of we’re struggling a bit right now. I know once these guys get going, it’s going to be scary.

“It’s still early. It’s the first week of the season. Zero reason to panic.”

But something has to change at the plate. Toronto came into the game hitting .196 with only Kansas City sporting a worse average in the majors.

“Some of our better hitters are missing their pitch,” said manager John Gibbons.

Gibbons suggested his batters may have to change their approach.

“There’s some times (where) maybe we’re taking too many fastballs early in the count. Maybe (we should) swing our way out of it a little bit.”