A New League—a Toronto Blue Jays Franchise

[JoeyKirby]

The Blue Jays split their two game series with the Yanks after their 9-2 win today. The Blue Jays fell in the first game by a final score of 14-5 in which they were out hit twenty to fourteen, but they came back in this one with a strong performance as they collected nine runs on thirteen hits against Yankees pitching, whilst the Yanks got just two runs on the board on seven hits.

Zach Britton continued to pitch well this year as he went eight innings in this one allowing just two runs on six hits, no walks, and he rung up five. Aaron Crow came on in relief and surrendered one hit, but would get out of the inning unscathed as he struck out two to finish it.

As mentioned earlier, Toronto's batters in this one collected thirteen hits in total and had seventeen baserunners in the game. Five of the nine starters today had multi-hit games, those include: Jose Tabata who was two for three with a triple and two walks, Jason Heyward who was two for five with a homer, Justin Smoak who was three for four, Josh Thole who was two for four, and also Dee Gordon who was two for three.

Toronto will start up a three game set at the Rogers Centre tomorrow as they host the New York Mets. Toronto's expected starters are Danny Duffy (3-2, 4.78 ERA), Stephen Strasburg (4-1, 3.62 ERA), and Madison Bumgarner (4-2, 2.13 ERA).

[JoeyKirby]

[JoeyKirby]

Toronto finishes up their seven game home stand with a sweep over the New York Metropolitan's. The Bluebirds came out on top in the first two games by scores of 9-8 and 6-1, then winning the finale today in a pitching duel as they just barely squeaked out a 1-0 win.

Madison Bumgarner (5-2, 1.88 ERA) started on the hill for the Blue Jays and was very strong through seven innings of work as he surrendered just four hits, no walks and he rung up five Mets batters. Jake McGee worked two thirds of the eighth inning and recorded a strikeout, fireballer Jeremy Jeffress came on to get the final out of the inning and he did so via strikeout. Aroldis Chapman came on to try and convert his 11th save of the year and he did just that.

The Blue Jays had just one hitter in their lineup collect more than one hit today, that man was designated hitter Justin Smoak as he went three for four, bumping his average up to .271 on the year. Jason Heyward had the only run in the game for either team as he hit a solo dinger in the sixth inning and that's all Toronto needed to come out on top.

Toronto will head to Tampa Bay, Florida for a three game set against divisional rival Tampa Bay Rays. Toronto's expected starters are Rubby De La Rosa, Zach Britton, and Danny Duffy.

[JoeyKirby]

[JoeyKirby]

The Blue Jays finish up their three game set against their AL East rival Tampa Bay Rays today on Wednesday, May 23rd with a 7-3 win. Toronto took the first two games by final scores of 8-5 and 7-6 and would end up outscoring the Rays 22-14.

Danny Duffy (4-2, 5.09 ERA) started on the mound for the Blue Jays and gave manager John Farrell six strong innings surrendering three runs on three hits, two walks, whilst striking out seven. Long reliever Hector Noesi came in after Duffy and pitched three scoreless innings with one strikeout en route to his first save of the year.

Toronto continues to get great performances in the leadoff spot from Jose Tabata as he had another good day today going four for five, bumping his average up to .390 on the year. Anthony Rizzo's bat showed some life today, bumping his average up to .232 as he went one for four with a two-run homer. Dee Gordon had a very good performance in this one as well in the nine spot in the lineup as he is currently hitting .307 on the year after a three for four game today with a double, but he was also caught stealing.

Toronto will get tomorrow off, then head down to Arlington, Texas for a three game weekend series against the Rangers. The expected starters are Stephen Strasburg (5-1, 3.28 ERA) vs. Neftali Feliz (1-2, 6.02 ERA), Madison Bumgarner (5-2, 1.89 ERA) vs. Brett Anderson (3-1, 5.14 ERA), and finally Rubby De La Rosa (4-2, 5.36 ERA) vs. R.A. Dickey (3-1, 5.89 ERA) in the finale.

[JoeyKirby]

[JoeyKirby]

The Blue Jays salvage their three game weekend series against the Rangers today on Sunday in the finale as they trounce the Rangers in a 6-0 win. The Blue Jays lost by scores of 8-2 and 3-2 in the first two and were outscored 11-10 in the series.

Rubby De La Rosa (5-2, 4.66 ERA) started for the Bluebirds and had a quality start as he yielded just two hits, one walk, whilst striking out eleven in seven innings of work. Hector Noesi came in for two mop-up innings and had a clean outing in relief.

Toronto's bats were carried by the J-Hey-Kid as Jason Heyward had a monster game in which he went 3-3 with a double, triple, and homer, falling one leg short of the cycle. Brett Lawrie went 2-4 in the two spot in the lineup with a double, bumping his average up to .250. Part time catcher Josh Thole went 2-5 with a pair of doubles in this one notching his average up to .273.

Toronto will finish off the month of May with a two game set at home against the Baltimore Orioles, the expected starters are Danny Duffy vs. Matt Harvey and Stephen Strasburg vs. Tim Hudson.

[JoeyKirby]