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Pressing was the phrase interim supervisor John Schneider used earlier than final night time’s sport, summing up the Blue Jays’ current circumstances.
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The playoff spot that solely a few weeks in the past felt pretty safe is something however with a number of groups now inside shut proximity and greater than able to push the Jays out of rivalry all collectively.
It’s even just a little extra pressing this morning.
The Baltimore Orioles, a group everybody thought would have come again to earth by now, is proving to be way more of a long-term risk than many had predicted.
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Down a pair of early runs on a rope of a house run by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. within the first, the Orioles hung round and hung round and ultimately obtained to Jays ace Alek Manoah for a pair of runs within the fifth to tie it and two extra within the sixth, chasing Manoah within the course of, and beating Toronto 4-2.
It was the third loss in a row for the Jays and fourth within the final eight days to the hard-charging Orioles who at the moment are only a half-game again of the Jays for the third and ultimate wild-card spot within the American League.
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Manoah wound up taking the loss regardless of a robust begin that noticed him not enable successful till there have been two-down within the fourth.
However back-to-back solo homers by Cedric Mullen and rookie catcher Adley Rutschman within the fifth erased the lead.
An inning later the Orioles pushed forward for good on Ramon Urias’ RBI-single and a Ryan McKenna run-scoring single of his personal.
Manoah and the remainder of the Jays are properly conscious of their struggles. The group has now misplaced eight of the previous 10. It’s not the primary time this group has struggled and Manoah, like the remainder of his teammates, stays assured they’ll flip this round, too.
“We’re nonetheless within the playoffs,” he stated, “so we’re a playoff group and we all know we’re a playoff group. We’re going by a troublesome stretch however we are going to proceed to get higher.
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“Everyone on this clubhouse works laborious every single day they usually give all of it they’ve,” he continued. “Proper now the ball will not be rolling our manner however we are going to proceed to battle and as we proceed to work laborious, we predict we might be proper the place we must be on the finish.”
Dean Kremer obtained the win going a robust seven innings, permitting simply these two early runs on the Guerrero homer.
The 2 groups go at it another time this afternoon earlier than the sequence wraps up with Ross Stripling making his return from the injured record to tackle right-hander Austin Voth in a uncommon mid-week matinee.
SWITCHING THINGS UP
The Blue Jays lineup had a little bit of a twist to it Tuesday.
As much as the No. 5 gap was Matt Chapman with Bo Bichette dropped all the way in which to the No. 7 spot within the order.
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“Simply looking for the easiest way to win tonight,” Schneider stated. “Simply shaking issues up, giving guys completely different seems and seeing how issues shake out actually. Nothing specifically to it. I like Chappy’s at-bats lately and offence hasn’t actually been killing it so simply attempting to shake it up.”
Bichette, who has by no means hit this low within the lineup in his profession, took the information properly — to some extent — based on Schneider.”
“He’s an ultra-competitor,” Schneider stated. “He’s most likely not thrilled, however, I imply, yeah, he’s going to exit and play laborious like he does every single day.”
The transfer leaves Lourdes Gurriel Jr. within the No. 3 spot within the order, a spot Schneider can be fairly glad leaving him if he continues to see the type of at-bats Gurriel is giving the group.
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“I feel every thing is in flux proper now,” Schneider stated. “I’ve actually preferred (Gurriel’s) at-bats. Having him there with runners on is nice and his method has been stable. Yeah, if he sticks there that’s completely a great consequence for the group. I like what he’s doing proper now.”
KIKUCHI’S STARTING FUTURE IN LIMBO
No one is saying Yusei Kikuchi has made his final begin for the Blue Jays, however that would very properly be the case.
Schneider, when requested concerning the pitching matchups going ahead wouldn’t decide to Kikuchi saying solely, “Stripling tomorrow, Berrios and Gausman after that after which we’ll go from there.”
The obvious choices are Kikuchi or Mitch White, who came to visit on the commerce deadline and has been filling in for Stripling whereas he’s been out. Kikuchi is 0-2 with a 7.30 ERA in three August begins.
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White is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two August begins.
“We’re on the level within the season the place each sport is necessary and I feel the very best phrase to explain (the Jays’ present state of affairs) is pressing,” Schneider stated in response to a query about Kikuchi’s position going ahead. “Each sport is necessary. There’s a massive mixture of groups which are vying for playoff spots which I feel is enjoyable and thrilling and aggressive. So, you consider every thing actually. You consider efficiency; you consider matchups and also you make the very best choice for the group.”
Requested if there may be an alternate position for him ought to Kikuchi be taken out of the beginning rotation, Schneider waffled a bit.
“Perhaps,” he stated. “I feel he’s a very good pitcher and he has actually good things and when he’s on, he strikes loads of guys out. So, I feel at this level within the season something is on the desk and simply looking for the very best spot for him and everybody to try to assist us win every night time.”
mganter@postmedia.com
