TORONTO. A successful share of .600 can be first-place end in two of Main League Baseball’s six divisions. That is not even near first place within the American League East.
The Toronto Blue Jays posted a strong 24-16 file in Monday’s recreation in opposition to the New York Yankees, however had been nearer to the division basement than to first place.
“We’re in good condition, however we’re actually not firing all cylinders persistently sufficient,” stated Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider.
Toronto opened the marketing campaign with a 6-4 away journey, however the group has been both scorching or chilly in current weeks. A six-match successful streak was adopted by a five-match loss on the finish of April.
The final 4 collection of Toronto had been sweeps. The Blue Jays misplaced 4 video games in a row in Boston, received three in Pittsburgh, misplaced a two-game miniseries in Philadelphia, after which went dwelling to win three video games in opposition to Atlanta.
“I really feel actually good in regards to the place we’re in with what number of video games we have performed on the highway so far,” Blue Jays common supervisor Ross Atkins stated. “I do really feel there may be nonetheless some room for progress in our general group play, however (we) have weathered a troublesome stretch very nicely thus far.
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“I really feel like we’re in a robust place.”
Toronto opened the four-game collection in opposition to the visiting Yankees with a stellar 12–3 dwelling file. The Blue Jays personal a pedestrian zone 12-13 meters from Rogers Heart.
If the season had ended on Monday, the Blue Jays would have completed second within the American League.
“I feel (we) like what we have now and there may be nonetheless lots of room for enchancment,” Schneider stated in a pre-match press launch. “I feel solely by way of consistency in any respect levels of the sport.
“I feel the person performances are good and a few of the guys individually shall be slightly higher than they’re now.”
Matt Chapman was one of many group’s early standouts, although he is cooled off recently. The third baseman was the American League Participant of the Month for April after hitting .384 with 5 homers and 21 RBIs.
Beau Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had been additionally hosts, whereas Whit Merrifield, Kevin Kirmeyer and Yusei Kikuchi additionally obtained off to begin.
George Springer, Alejandro Kirk, Alec Manoa and Danny Jansen all had weak early recreation outcomes. Dalton Warshaw and Brandon Belt appear to be on the rise after an uneven begin to the marketing campaign.
“I feel there are some particular person features on our record that I feel shall be mounted,” Atkins stated. We have already seen a few of this with Brandon Belt and Dalton Warshaw. After which I feel we’ll see how issues sync up higher.”
A balanced schedule was applied this season round Main League Baseball. Every group will play the opposite 29 golf equipment at the least as soon as.
The excellent news for the Blue Jays is that they’ve 24 fewer video games in opposition to Al East. The dangerous information is that the remainder of the jap groups additionally play extra usually with golf equipment from the historically weaker divisions.
Coming into Monday’s video games, Tampa Bay (31-11) and Baltimore (26-14) had been 1-2 within the East and general.
Toronto (24-16) was two video games behind New York (23-19) and a couple of 1/2 video games behind Boston (22-19). The Pink Sox are final within the East, however their file can be good for second place in 4 of the opposite 5 divisions.
“It is a sturdy division, it is at all times been that manner,” Atkins stated. The stability facet simply makes it distinctive or totally different from what it was prior to now. However I feel in the long term there are methods to profit from it, albeit with some challenges.”
Toronto’s weekly dwelling place would finish with a three-game streak in opposition to the Orioles. A 3rd consecutive Jap contender follows because the Blue Jays go to Tampa Bay subsequent week for a four-game set.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed on Could 15, 2023.
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