Toronto Blue Jays’ Woeful Record Against AL East Opponents Threatens To Scuttle Playoff Hopes

“It has been a weird thing,” the skipper began. “We look forward to the challenges.”

The Blue Jays find themselves in Boston as a scheduled three-game series against the Red Sox begins Friday night.

Big picture, the Jays find themselves searching for answers in trying to solve the puzzle that is the AL East.

It has been perplexing and problematic knowing not much has gone right for the Jays when matched up against the likes of Baltimore, Tampa, the New York Yankees and the Bosox.

Following their 6-1 loss to the O’s in Thursday’s series finale, the Jays dropped their record to 8-23 against divisional opponents. Against all other foes, the Blue Jays have forged a 52-27 mark.

There was a time not so long into the past when the Blue Jays would feast on the Orioles. The tide has clearly turned and it figures to carry over into the ensuing seasons given the quality of young talent on Baltimore’s roster.

When the Jays previously visited Beantown, they were swept in a four-game series. Looking ahead, Toronto’s schedule sees it play 15 straight games to close out the regular season against the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays.

Losing three of four at home against Baltimore doesn’t bode well, but not all is lost for the Blue Jays. So much will hinge on the team’s ability to win games within its division.

The state of the Jays’ offence does not inspire much confidence and Kevin Gausman’s outing against the O’s was more disconcerting than encouraging. The loss takes Gausman’s record to 8-6 on the season.

He also gave up more hits (8) than he recorded strikeouts (6) during his 4.1-inning outing.

“They’re in first place and they’re playing pretty free,” he said of the O’s. “I just think they have a good approach.”

The Jays, on the other hand, seem to play with an anchor on their backs when they hook up with divisional rivals this season.

Rewind to last season when the Jays went 16-3 against Boston. Under baseball’s more balanced schedule, the two teams will not meet as often this season. Still, Toronto’s combined record against Boston and Baltimore is a feeble 2-15 in 2023.

“I mean, if I had an answer for you, we probably wouldn’t be in this situation,” Gausman added.

“Both (the O’s and the Bosox) have a good amount of young guys that I think are OK with really diving into an approach and listening to a hitting coach and not trying to do too much.

“Maybe that’s why. I don’t know. We played really well against the Red Sox last year. They’re probably gunning for us this year. I don’t know.”

He’s not alone in not knowing why so much futility against AL East foes continues to persist. The Jays can’t suddenly play harder.

While it does sound cliche, Toronto’s woes can be traced to execution and hitting, in large part, in trying to explain its lack of success against the AL East.

“You trust who you are as a team, which we do,” Schneider said. “You have to just go out and execute your plan, no matter who it is against.

“I know how it looks when we’ve played against the AL East, but you have to put it behind you and move on.

“The guys know how important every game is, especially during this stretch against Baltimore and Boston. You really can’t try any harder and you can’t try doing anything you’re not good at. You just have to move on and take it one game at a time.”

The Jays managed five hits against the O’s on Thursday, but Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer and Matt Chapman combined to strikeout five times.

In the injury absence to Bo Bichette, one of the team’s big boy bats must step.

“It’s a tough loss, obviously,” Schneider said when discussing Bichette. “He’s a really, really, really good player that you need other guys to step up in big moments.

“In big spots, we have those guys here. Right now, yes, we’re in a little bit of a tough time, but we have all the confidence in the world with the guys moving forward.”

Some kind of injection is needed and perhaps Davis Schneider will emerge as the missing piece.

The Jays were busy ahead of their weekend series in Boston by activating Schneider, who is not related to the skipper.

“He’s got a great last name, I know that,” John Schneider said when asked about his namesake last month.

Davis Schneider, 24, has earned his call up. He’s a second baseman who hit 21 home runs and drove in 64 runs at triple-A Buffalo this season.

To make room on the Jays’ 40-man roster, RHP Thomas Hatch was designated for assignment.

The Jays also reinstated right-handed reliever Jay Jackson from the family medical emergency list and was activated for Friday’s series opener at Fenway.

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Jay Jackson (35) looks on during second inning American League baseball action against the Houston Astros in Toronto on Monday, June 5, 2023. Jackson is returning to the Blue Jays lineup after a brief stint on family medical emergency list.

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Paul DeJong reacts to striking out against the Baltimore Orioles during the third inning in Toronto, Thursday August 3, 2023.

Orioles resume dominance over Blue Jays as Jack Flaherty outduels Kevin Gausman in series finale

In a corresponding move, the Jays optioned Ernie Clement to the Bisons.

What kind of presence Davis Schneider will have on the Jays is yet to be determined.

When the Jays gave up four ninth-inning runs in L.A. in an eventual extra-innings loss to the Dodgers, Toronto bounced back to win the series rubber match. Momentum seemed to have been built, but it was wasted during a 3-4 home-stand that featured the team scoring a combined 22 runs.

Baltimore’s visit to Toronto was big and now Toronto’s stay in Boston is equally so.

The Red Sox enter Friday two games back of the Jays in the wild-card race and looking to gain ground. Toronto can’t afford to cede it.