Blue Jays offence missing in action
And it doesn’t figure to get any better with Nats about to visit
It was never really going to be a fair fight, but the more the Toronto Blue Jays struggle at the plate this season, the more it’s clear how ill-equipped they are to compete in the slugger-happy American League East.
It’s been evident at various points this season and the team is struggling in multiple areas right now. But the lack of production at the plate is high on the list.
With third baseman Josh Donaldson still hurt, the designated hitter position a dead zone and Kevin Pillar significantly cooled from his sizzling early start — just to name three variables — the offence is non-existent on too many nights.
Take away the outlier of the four-game series sweep against the Baltimore Orioles last week at the Rogers Centre and the lack of production is glaring.
In the five most recent games not including the O’s, the Jays have scored just seven runs including being shut out twice and held to a single run on another occasion.
“It’s the American League East, man. You’ve got to score runs if you want to win games,” said 2017 all star first baseman Justin Smoak, one of the team’s scuffling, frustrated hitters.
“That’s the name of the game here. I feel like we’re not getting it done, honestly. We’re hitting into a lot of double plays and making quick, easy innings.”
While batting average isn’t the only measure of offence given the preponderance of walks in today’s game, it still is an indicator of trouble.
And the Jays team average of .232 is ranked 13th in the AL with only Texas and Baltimore lower.
The Jays’ run differential now sits at minus-27, glaring in comparison with the Red Sox (plus 103) and Yankees (plus 91).
While those two teams continue to go bombs away, the Jays bats are getting quieter and quieter, the most recent example being Wednesday’s 1-0 walkoff loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in which Toronto starter J.A. Happ pitched a one-hitter over five shutout innings.
In the just completed threegame brooming at the hands of the Rays, the Jays scored four and one runs to go along with the shutout loss.
The Jays didn’t manage an extra-base hit in each of their last two games — the first time they’ve done that since 2011.
With a day off to ponder those woes, it’s not about to get any easier facing a very good Washington Nationals team for three games at the Rogers Centre.
First up for the Nats is left hander Gio Gonzalez who will take his 6-2 record and 2.65 ERA against a Jays’ team that has dropped its past 11 starts against lefties.
And on Saturday, former Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (10-2, 2.00) gets the ball.
’STRO SHOW
Marcus Stroman’s recovery from shoulder fatigue took a major step forward on Wednesday in his first official outing since being placed on the disabled list back on May 11.
Stroman was strong in his 4.1 innings of work for the Dunedin Blue Jays facing the minimum in the first two innings and not allowing a hit until the Charlotte Stone Crabs’ Jesus Sanchez hit a two-run homer in the fifth.
Stroman is expected to have at least one more rehab start in Dunedin before rejoining the Jays, possibly as early as next week.
DONALDSON REBOUNDING
As he continues to recover from his latest injury — this time a strain of his left calf — Donaldson is attempting to keep frustration out of the equation.
“I’m ready to go and ready to get going,” said Donaldson, who with an expiring US$23 million contract has even more incentive to return to form.
“I know I can help this team but I can’t think about (rushing back).
“I’ve got to do what I can to get better and feel better.”
Thursday’s off day was scheduled to be an important one for Donaldson as he planned to run the bases at the Rogers Centre.
Donaldson came out of that fine.
The Jays were pondering sending him to Buffalo for a game or two this weekend to continue his rehab.