The Blue Jays are suddenly right in the middle of the playoff race. Toronto picked up a massive 3-1 win over the New York Yankees on Friday night, improving to 60-64 and moving just one game back of the final AL Wild Card spot after winning 12 of its last 18 games.
On game 125 preview of Flight Deck, Dan Riccio breaks down another huge Blue Jays victory, Shane Bieber’s six innings of one-run baseball and Alejandro Kirk’s clutch night at the plate. Kirk delivered the go-ahead RBI double in the sixth before adding some insurance with a solo home run in the eighth as Toronto continued its unlikely late-season push.
But the win came with a major concern. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. exited the game after taking a knee to the head from Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. during a chaotic play at third base. Vladdy managed to get up and score the tying run, but left the game immediately afterward and is now going through concussion protocol. He is not in today’s starting lineup as Toronto waits for more information on its franchise first baseman.
Dan will also look at whether this Blue Jays team is beginning to find an identity at exactly the right time. Toronto has leaned on contact, defence, aggressive baserunning and a strong bullpen during this recent run, and suddenly every game feels like a playoff game with the Wild Card race tightening up.
Looking ahead, Toronto will go with a bullpen game as Braydon Fisher gets the start, with Simeon Woods Richardson expected to be involved in some capacity. The Yankees counter with Cam Schlittler, one of the best pitchers in the American League this season. Schlittler enters at 10-6 with a 2.21 ERA and 182 strikeouts over 146.2 innings, but Toronto has had some success against him, as he is 0-2 with a 4.12 ERA in four career starts against the Blue Jays.
We’ll also discuss the first MLB call-up for Ricky Tiedemann, the former top Blue Jays prospect who has battled his way back after Tommy John surgery and could now become another weapon for Toronto’s pitching staff down the stretch.
With a win today, the Blue Jays can clinch the series against the Yankees and potentially move even closer to a Wild Card spot. Can Toronto keep this improbable playoff push alive without Vladdy in the lineup and find a way to solve one of the American League’s best pitchers?
We finish with Dan’s picks presented by bet365.
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