Blue Jays inching toward 'seller' status as Nationals beat up bullpen in series-opening blowout
Article content
In the hours leading up to Friday’s first pitch of the series opener against the host Washington Nationals, a couple of developments underscored the gravity of the Blue Jays’ plight.
There was manager John Schneider, whose words are always measured, sounding more urgent knowing his team brought a 15-17 record into the weekend set at Nationals Park.
“The time is now,’’ the skipper told the assembled media during his normal pre-game availability.
“The time is not: ‘It’s going to happen.’ The time is now.”
There was baseball insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic opining that the Blue Jays loom as a potential seller at the July 30 trade deadline. The season is early, acknowledged Rosenthal, who also noted there hasn’t been much chatter of any impending moves.
“The team that I’m really watching closely is Toronto because they seem to be reaching a crossroads,” Rosenthal said on the Foul Territory podcast. “At some point, this team either needs to play better or needs to make some hard decisions on the players that they have.”
It all makes sense, knowing Rogers Communications, owners of the Blue Jays, have not been shy in forking over big bucks, whether it involves roster construction or renovations at the Rogers Centre.
Under this backdrop, the Jays desperately needed to bounce back from a 2-4 homestand that saw them lose consecutive series to the L.A. Dodgers and Kansas City Royals.
But, alas, it was more of the same, as the Nationals scored four runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to walk away with a 9-3 victory.
Yusei Kikuchi, who is on an expiring contract, started for the Blue Jays in D.C., and turned in a quality six-inning outing, allowing only one run while striking out seven.
He was even staked to a 3-0 lead when the Blue Jays put up all of their runs in the second inning, two of those coming on a Daulton Varsho double to right field. Some other early-inning opportunities were created, but the team’s beleaguered bats again failed to produce in the clutch.
While not at his sharpest, Kikuchi gave up one run on five hits through the game’s first three innings, while striking out only one.
He quickly turned up the heat, rearing back in the fourth by striking out the side, then beginning the fifth by whiffing Trey Lipscomb and Jesse Winker for his fifth K in a row.
Once Kikuchi left, after exactly 100 pitches, the Jays suddenly fell behind when Erik Swanson began his relief outing with a leadoff walk before he surrendered a three-run home run to Luis Garcia Jr. Tim Mayza then allowed a run in relief of Swanson.
In the eighth, Washington rubbed salt in the wound, loading the bases with one out and Genesis Cabrera on the mound. Two more runs followed as the result of an error by Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
Kikuchi was very good, the team’s relievers very bad and the offence, outside of one inning, was once again offensive. The time is now to consider the real possibility that this season is slipping away just 33 games into a 162-game season.
SUNDAY SURPRISE
The Blue Jays insist they’ll make the call on Sunday’s starter in the next 24 hours, which isn’t exactly Earth-shattering. Either they weren’t tipping their hand in the hours leading up to Friday night’s first pitch or they simply did not know what course of action they would take.
What is known is that Alek Manoah remains an option as his 30-day rehab stint expires Monday.
The big righty hasn’t been on a big-league mound since last season when he started against Cleveland on Aug. 10. He was scheduled to throw a side session Friday in Indianapolis for the triple-A Buffalo Bisons.
Manoah will pitch Sunday, but where and for whom will be decided on Saturday.
Kevin Gausman will start Saturday’s game.
MOVING DAY
No surprise to hear the news announced by the Blue Jays that Addison Barger had been optioned to triple-A.
The kid was called up in Kansas City where he made his debut in left field, a position he had never played at the pro level, but was thrown into following a hip flexor injury to Kevin Kiermaier.
Barger has a big arm and a sweet swing, but he clearly needs refinement.
He recorded his first big-league hit in the series opener against the Royals when K.C. visited Toronto.
During his five-game exposure to the big leagues, Barger struck out six times in 18 at-bats.
With Barger being optioned, the Jays recalled outfielder Nathan Lukes, who was active for Friday night’s game.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.