- Toronto avoided a sweep with a 7-2 victory over Texas on Sunday, but the win came too late to prevent falling further back in the AL wild-card race
- The Blue Jays’ pitching staff continues to struggle with ace Dylan Cease requiring an MRI on his shoulder, forcing a makeshift rotation for the upcoming Baltimore series
- Leadoff hitter Brett Bateman delivered a masterclass at the plate, seeing 30 pitches and working disciplined at-bats against Rangers starter Jacob deGrom to spark Toronto’s offensive approach
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was removed due to left lower back tightness—an ongoing injury that has plagued him throughout the season—raising concerns ahead of critical games
- With an elimination number of three, the Blue Jays now trail the Chicago White Sox by four games for the third wild-card spot and must win nearly all remaining games to stay alive
- The team’s inability to bounce back after falling behind early in games has been a season-long weakness, winning just once in nine games when conceding the first run since September 4
Read the full story here: https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/blue-jays-scratch-out-needed-win-with-wild-card-hopes-slipping-away/
