May showers drench hopes
There was hope for the Blue Jays heading into the month of May, coming off their first winning April since the 2012 season. Instead, they managed just nine wins, their first single-digit month since 1981, to fall to 25-31. FanGraphs now gives them just a 6.5-per-cent chance to make the playoffs. Baseball Prospectus: 2.8 per cent. Here’s a look back at some of the highs and (mostly) lows before they start June in Detroit:
Josh Donaldson, whose shoulder strength seemed to remain an issue through the month despite his return from the disabled list on May 3, is now on the sidelines with a right calf issue, which the Jays hope won’t be a long-term problem.
MOST EXASPERATING
A shout-out to designated hitter Kendrys Morales is due here, given he hit .032 from May 2 to 10 before going 13 for 39 with four doubles, a home run, a walk and seven RBIs. Pitcher Joe Biagini, though, who started the month making three starts and finished with two apperances out of the bullpen, had a team-high 9.82 ERA in May. Whether or not he could make it as a starter was always to be determined, but the 28-year-old who excelled as a long reliever for the Jays in 2016 is now struggling in relief too, giving up three runs on five hits in 12⁄ 3 innings.
MOST DISAPPOINTING
There’s no telling when Jays closer Roberto Osuna will return from administrative leave, after his arrest for allegedly assaulting a woman on May 8. The layoff has already been extended three times. Meanwhile, the bullpen has struggled to make up for his absence. Relief pitching was one of the Jays’ strengths in April as the starting rotation struggled — finishing with a combined 2.28 ERA, secondbest in the big leagues. In May, that number ballooned to 5.12, 27th in the majors.
MOST VALUABLE PITCHER
J.A. Happ got off to a rough start in his first two outings, giving up a combined 10 runs through nine innings. But he rebounded in his final three starts, putting up a 1.74 ERA through 202⁄ 3 innings. The 35-year-old lefty even had some success at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs in a win over the New York Mets.
Honourable mentions go to Sam Gaviglio, Seunghwan Oh and Aaron Loup. Gaviglio stepped up in the wake of injuries to starters Marcus Stroman and Jaime Garcia, first as a long reliever and then in the rotation. He finished the month with a 3.32 ERA and helped the Jays to a pair of wins. Oh’s ERA dropped from 2.38 in March/April to 1.93 in May. And after a shaky start, Loup finished the month with the lowest ERA of any Blue Jay at 1.54. He too allowed just three runs this month — two earned — over 112⁄ 3 innings. The lefty reliever hasn’t given up a hit in his last nine appearances.
BEST POSITION PLAYER
Yangervis Solarte led the Blue Jays offence with 18 RBIs in May, hitting four home runs and eight doubles along the way. His .739 OPS was good for fourth on the team for the month, behind leader Dwight Smith Jr. (.916), Justin Smoak (.866) and Devon Travis (.862), who played just seven games after being recalled from the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. Solarte also showed his versatility as the Jays struggled with injuries, playing every infield position plus DH.
MOST SURPRISING
Fun moments were few and far between, but playing “Where on the field is Russell Martin?” might rate. The catcher made 13 starts at his regular position, four at third base and one each at shortstop and in left field. Martin hit .175 in May, compared to .156 through March and April.