The Toronto Blue Jays are becoming increasingly harder to peg.
The club stumbled out of the gate to a 23-30 record. New big bats Josh Donaldson and Russell Martin made the teams already potent offense more powerful, but the clubs pitching – specifically the clubs starters – had been atrocious.
After their disappointing start, the club suddenly reeled off seven straight wins, and have put themselves back into the race for the AL East.
So what’s changed over that time? The clubs once floundering pitching is now excelling.
Mark Buehrle, who has struggled mightily through the 2015 campaign, has turned back the clock recently. He thew a Maddux against the Washington Nationals, getting a complete game shutout on only 93 pitches. He followed that up with a solid six inning appearance against the Marlins allowing only two runs.
Mark Buehrle just did slight work – #Maddux style: http://t.co/6e3gFFmHZx pic.twitter.com/JYASky1fA1
— MLB (@MLB) June 4, 2015
If Buehrle is turning back the clock, than Aaron Sanchez is time traveling towards the future. He looked like a polished vet in his most recent start against the Houston Astros allowing just one earned run over eight innings. Most importantly, he didn’t walk a single batter, which is a positive development for a pitcher who leads the entire league in the category. Sanchez ranks fifth in the MLB is ground ball percentage, and if he can harness his control the Blue Jays have something special.
The team has also gotten solid contributions from Drew Hutchison and Marco Estrada, although R.A. Dickey continues to struggle. It’s going to be a tough pill for the Blue Jays to swallow to watch Noah Syndergaard become an ace with the team they traded him too for the aging knuckleballer, the Mets.
Over the teams last eight games (7-1) Blue Jays pitching has held up, allowing only six runs once, while holding their opponents to three runs or less in every other game.
While I hate using the word, Blue Jays batting has been clutch.
Over the seven game stretch, the team has two walk-off hits. Chris Collabello, who’s surprisingly been a very important cog in the Blue Jays machine, hit a two-run single to ensure a sweep of the then AL West leading Houston Astros.
Last night, Edwin Encarnacion got in on the action, blasting a two-run game winning home run off of Marlins pitcher A.J Ramos to the dead center of the Rogers Centre. Encarnacion had been dealing with Blue Jays injuries throughout the season and has struggled because of it. Manager John Gibbons told ESPN after the game “That’s why it’s so important to have Eddie in the lineup healthy, because he can do that.” If he can get things going, the Blue Jays lineup is going to be even scarier than it is now – which would be absurd considering the Blue Jays lead the MLB in runs by a wide margin.
Another healthy player, Jose Reyes, has made a significant contribution upon his return. An ongoing absurd call-to-action in Toronto has been replacing the talented Reyes with backup shortstop Ryan Goins. Reyes has dispelled that idiocy, stealing six bases, collecting at least one hit and scoring five runs during the Blue Jays streak. When healthy, Reyes makes the top of the order dynamite. Goins, a fine young defensive shortstop, can’t hit worth a lick. Reyes is a game changer, and he’s showing that off now more than ever.
Despite the great stretch, the Blue Jays haven’t made up much ground in the AL East.
The team still sits four games behind the New York Yankees for the division lead – as they’ve went on a seven game winning streak of their own. The division is still competitive, as all of AL East teams are all within reach of .500. It’s going to be a dogfight for the club to get over the hump and make the playoffs, but if they continue to compete and play like they are now, it’s going to be a fun ride.
[Image via ESPN and The National Post]
