After every Blue Jays series, this Canadian will sum up his five stars of the set and throw in my two cents (worth .015 US).
Back to the basement. Back to .500.
I am dating myself but Blue Jays fans of a certain age will know what I am talking about. Every time I see Kaufmann Stadium, I think of 1988 when George Bell made history as the first player to smack three Home Runs on Opening Day. This was fresh off becoming the first Blue Jay to win the MVP, and the vision I had that the charismatic enigma from the baseball factory of San Pedro de Macoris was a generational player was off the chart. As we know, that didn’t happen, but it was a sweet memory.
As for this series, I will just as soon let it drown in my half-can of beer.
Toronto won the first game off of another strong start by Yusei Kikuchi and a three-run triple by Bo Bichette, but they dropped the next three all by a single run. The top of the order (Springer, Guerrero Jr. and Bichette) again underwhelmed, and the Royals bullpen of no-names led by James McArthur (who was a converted starter) outgunned Toronto, and the revamped Royals look like they could be on the path to something special, and Toronto is thankfully heading home to reclaim their mojo.
Here are my five Blue Jays stars of the series.
Jose Berrios, 1 L, 5.0 IP, 3.60 ERA, 1 SO, 1.20 WHIP: I know. Berrios took his first loss and gave up two runs in the first inning of the weather-shortened series ender, but he pitched four shutout innings and kept Toronto in the game. Had the skies not cried, Berrios and the Jays could have evened the series.
Daulton Varsho, 2 R, 4 H, 2 XBH, 1 HR, 3 RBI .400/.571/.800/1.371: Varsho collected a hit in all four games and is currently on a six-game hit streak. Along with Justin Turner, Varsho is the only player with an OPS over .900, and he has taken over the club lead in Home Runs (6) and Runs Batted In (13). The season is not out of its first month yet, so the realist in me expects his bat to cool down, and when it does, hopefully, the top of the order wakes up.
Yusei Kikuchi, 1 W, 6.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 4 SO, 0.866 WHIP: Kikuchi won his second game of the season, going six innings without allowing a walk. This was not his best start, as his game score was under 60 following three straight of 65 and over, but it was enough for the W.
Justin Turner, 3 R, 4 H, 1 XBH, 0 HR, 1 RBI .444/.546/.556/1.101: Turner is approaching 40, and is now mostly a designated hitter, but has been Toronto’s most consistent bat this year. He is currently the team leader in OPS (.928) and OPS+ (172). The Jays would be in serious trouble without Turner and Varsho, especially with Bichette, Guerrero and Springer all with OPS+ under 100.
George Springer, 2 R, 5 H, 2 XBH, 1 HR, 1 RBI .294/.294/.529/.824: I said that Springer is one of the three who have disappointed, but I have committed to five stars, and five hits in a losing series is enough to get him here.
Honourable mentions for nobody.
Up next, Toronto returns home for three games against the potent Los Angeles Dodgers. Damn, I love interleague play!
Until then, touch them all!
