Jays a hit on Canada Day
The Blue Jays reached Canada Day with a record of 32-53 thanks to a blowout 11-4 win over Kansas City.
But despite being 21 games under the .500 mark, the struggling team will have a prominent presence next week in Cleveland for the Midsummer Classic. In fact, it may be a case of the past, present and future on display for the 90th All Star Game.
The past (likely, anyway) will be pitcher Marcus Stroman, who was a league selection when rosters were completed on Sunday and MLB had to designate one representative from each team.
It’s expected, of course, that Stroman will be dealt before the end of the month as the Jays continue their rebuild.
The present is Vlad Guerrero Jr., who was invited to participate in next Monday’s home run derby and will take Jays coach John Schneider along to throw to him.
And the future is hard-throwing pitcher Nate Pearson, who will look to light up the radar gun in Sunday’s Futures Game. One current Jay who can relate to what awaits for Pearson is catcher Danny Jansen, who played in the 2018 Futures Game in Washington, belting a home run.
“It was by far one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had,” Jansen said. “You get to play on the main stage.”
Starter Clayton Richard may be settling into a groove. Making his eighth start as a Jay on Monday, the 35-year-old lefty got his first win going six complete, allowing three runs after scattering seven Royals hits.
A combination of a struggling team, a horrible opponent and ridiculous pricing made for a crowd well below what the team has been accustomed to on the nation’s birthday. The announced crowd of 29,339 was by far the smallest in the past nine years, when the Jays started their run of consecutive home dates on Canada Day.