One more chance to avoid the sweep. It won’t be easy with Zack Wheeler on the mound, but Jose Berrios has allowed one run over this last three appearances himself, so if he can maintain that form they’ll have a fighting chance.
The good news is that while the Jays have dropped a couple in a row, so have the Yankees, Twins and Guardians. As a result, they haven’t lost their position as the top wildcard, 2.0 games clear of the third spot and 2.5 clear of the chasers, and they’re still only 4.5 back in the division. It’s a long season that’s only just approaching the halfway mark, but in spite of all their starting pitching issues they’re in a pretty good spot right now. If Max Scherzer can give them anything at all and if Vlad finally turns it on they look capable of making a run.
On that note, they travel home after this to play the D-Backs and the White Sox, followed by trips to Cleveland and Boston, then home for four against the Yankees. After that, it’s hosting the Angels and at the White Sox and A’s to head into the All Star break. It’s an extremely important month. They need to feast on the dozen games against the dregs of the American League, because they won’t get an easier stretch the rest of the season, and they need to beat back the Guardians and Red Sox, who are some of their most important wild card competition. How they do will determine whether they try to get one more run in while Bo and Bassitt are around, or whether they’re selling those guys to reload around the Vlad/Kirk/…Nimmala? core of the future.
Here are the lineups (when they come out):
Blue Jays
- TBD!
Phillies
- TBD!
Go Jays Go!