Fans can expect wild finish for their Jays
For years, the major complaints surrounding baseball’s schedule in the final month were that there weren’t enough games within divisions and that some clubs had an easier task facing bad teams from other divisions, even from the other league. This is not the case in 2015. Following the series in Atlanta, the Blue Jays play all 16 of their remaining games within the AL East, needing to compile about 90 wins to clinch a wild card and a few more than that to fend off the Yankees and capture the division.
Here’s a preview: Sept. 15-17 in Atlanta: The disappointing Braves were expected to battle the Nationals for the NL East title, but somewhere mid-summer that all fell apart. The Braves, along with the Marlins and Phillies, are patsies that make the division far and away the worst in baseball. First baseman Freddie Freeman leads the pop-gun offence, and right fielder Nick Markakis has always given the Jays a difficult time since his days with the Orioles. The bullpen has been decimated by injury and the remaining group of relievers is more Triple-A than major league. They have used 36 pitchers. Only righthanders Shelby Miller and Julio Teheran have remained in the rotation all year.
Projection: The Jays win all three. Sept. 18-20 vs. Red Sox: Boston has had a very disappointing season, just two years removed from a World Series title. Manager John Farrell is being treated for lymphoma with hopes for a full recovery. They hired Dave Dombrowski as president and GM Ben Cherington resigned. They’ve occupied the basement for most of the schedule, but have played much better baseball of late with an influx of excellent young players 25 and under. The young-gun position players include shortstop Xander Bogaerts, catcher Blake Swihart, outfielders Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. and first baseman Travis Shaw, while Eduardo Rodriguez and Henry Owens are in the rotation and three hardthrowing relievers have filled in for injured closer Koji Uehara. They gave the Jays a tough time in Boston a week ago and will look for a repeat at Rogers Centre.
Projection: The Jays lose two of three heading into the much-anticipated Yankees series. Sept. 21-23 vs. Yankees: New York has hung in the race despite monthly predictions of their imminent demise as an aging team with a rotation held together by baling wire. With their best starter, righthander Nate Eovaldi, out for the regular season with an elbow injury and slugging first baseman Mark Teixeira gone for the year with a leg fracture — plus lefty C.C. Sabathia struggling after a return to health and righty Ivan Nova inconsistent every fifth day — the Jays have to be considered favourites for the division, but this series will be key. They did very little to improve at the trade deadline, but DH Alex Rodriguez, with a 30-homer season at the age of 40, has shocked the baseball world. They play solid defence while the bullpen, with Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller, is deep.
Projection: The Jays win two of three and continue to close in on the division title. Sept. 25-27 vs. Rays: Not much was expected from Tampa this season under first-year GM Matt Silverman and rookie manager Kevin Cash. But the franchise has a habit of performing above expectations, relying on talented starting pitchers and an ever-changing but effective bullpen. It was former manager Joe Maddon who had a knack for making chicken salad out of young Rays. The 162-game grind is wearing on this group, though, and the Jays need to take advantage. The Rays always play the Jays tough and right-hander Chris Archer often dominates. Centre fielder Kevin Kiermaier and third baseman Evan Longoria enjoy facing the Jays.
Projection: The Jays win two of three to conclude their home schedule. Sept. 28-Oct. 1at Orioles: This four-game series will mean a lot to the Jays and not much to the O’s, but these teams have grown to dislike one another. Baltimore is playing like the ultimate spoiler, tough against the Yankees with a chance to do the same vs. the Jays. First baseman Chris Davis, third baseman Manny Machado and centre fielder Adam Jones lead an explosive offence that is playing for numbers. Right-handed starter Ubaldo Jimenez has fared well against the Jays this year, but righty Chris Tillman not so much. Manager Buck Showalter doesn’t allow his teams to roll over and play out the string. Jays right fielder Jose Bautista is public enemy No. 1 to the O’s.
Projection: They split four and the Jays have at least the wild card locked up. Oct. 2-4 at Rays: A homecoming of sorts for David Price, who has a chance to be reminded of the pathetic atmosphere he left behind before joining the house parties every night at the Rogers Centre, after a stop in Detroit. The Rays rank last in AL home attendance and there will be more Jays fans at the Trop than there will be cheering for the Rays.
Projection: If the Jays need these games to clinch the division, they will lose two of three in their personal house of horrors.