The Blue Jays let a huge opportunity slip away Monday night, falling 6-5 to the Athletics on a walk-off infield single. Toronto drops to 72-73 and remains one game behind Cleveland for the final AL Wild Card spot after the Guardians also lost.
On game 146 preview of Flight Deck, Nick Alberga breaks down a frustrating night in Sacramento. Dylan Cease struggled through five innings, allowing five runs — four earned — as Toronto’s defence and inability to control Oakland’s running game helped the A’s steal five bases and build an early 5-1 lead.
The Jays still found a way to fight back. Kazuma Okamoto homered as part of Toronto’s seventh-inning rally before Andrés Giménez tied the game with a solo shot in the ninth. But Louis Varland walked two batters in the bottom half before Jeff McNeil beat out an infield single with the bases loaded to hand Toronto its second straight loss.
The good news? Toronto has been handed another opening tonight. Cleveland lost 6-4 to Baltimore earlier today, meaning a Blue Jays win would pull Toronto even with the Guardians at 73-73. The Jays own the head-to-head tiebreaker over Cleveland, so a win would put Toronto back into the final AL Wild Card position.
Looking ahead, José Soriano takes the mound for Toronto against Jack Perkins. Soriano enters at 11-7 with a 3.52 ERA and 151 strikeouts. He faced Cleveland in his last start, allowing three runs over 4.2 innings before Toronto eventually rallied for a 6-3 victory.
Oakland counters with Perkins, who enters at 3-10 with a 6.50 ERA and 116 strikeouts over 98.1 innings. He was recently recalled after J.T. Ginn landed on the injured list, giving the Blue Jays an opportunity to attack a pitcher who has struggled throughout the season.
Nick will also get into the latest on Anthony Santander, who is set to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday as he continues working his way back from shoulder surgery. With only a few weeks left in the regular season, could Santander still provide Toronto’s lineup with a late-season boost?
After wasting an opportunity Monday night, Toronto has been given another one less than 24 hours later. Can Soriano deliver, can the offence take advantage of Perkins, and can the Blue Jays finally jump back into a playoff spot?
We finish with Nick’s picks presented by bet365.
LIVE every game day one hour before first pitch right here on the Blue Jays Nation YouTube channel and on Instagram @BlueJaysNation.
Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of Flight Deck.
Thanks to our partners:
bet365: http://www.bet365.ca
Table Fare + Social: https://www.tablefoodhall.com/
#BlueJays #TorontoBlueJays #MLB #BlueJaysNation #FlightDeck
","author_name":"The Nation Network"}