Game 18 - Yankees @ Blue Jays April 16th Game Recap

Playoff Baseball, In April?

Not that the Blue Jays have given me ample opportunity to live playoff baseball the last couple of years; I remember what it felt like in the 2015-16 days of this team. This game felt very much like a playoff game. First and foremost we have to say the starter for the Blue Jays, Yusei Kikuchi was stellar. Another game where the opponents bats were held in check for most of the game. The Yankees got to the bullpen a little bit tonight, but not enough to tie it in the ninth inning.

Vlad and Bo had a get better game today. There were some moments where the stink of a slow start was there but the two of them went 3 for 7 with 3 walks and 3 RBI. Probably the most important part was Bo not swinging at a curveball in the dirt that was never a strike. He fought real hard in the at-bat and drew a walk. Huge change in the narrative. Vladdy’s 2-run single is the most relieved I’ve been after a single. I keep saying to the screen when they come to the plate “become the legend”. I want them to be legends when their time in Toronto is done and I feel like they don’t have anything close to a legend resume when they are at the plate in legend potential moments.

The defense has been great in this series so far and frankly, over the course of the season. Two diving catches in the outfield that, if missed, would have led to Yankee runs. The Blue Jays have stolen 11 bases in the last 8 games. I was getting sick and tired of watching the Jays be a station to station team while the rest of the leage is making the defense play defense. In tonight’s game, a bad throw led to a run. The final score was 5-4, you do the math.

The first rule about baseball is to win the series you are playing. The Blue Jays have secured the series win before the last game of the series. They are playing the Yankees who have, had?, the best record in baseball. ok, I checked, if Cleveland wins they will have the best record in baseball. What a world we live in. Anyways, I’m not going to say the Blue Jays’ issues are resolved. Vlad and Bo are still only getting through the infield hits and Bo hits into groundouts more often than I care to count. However, the pitching is stellar, the defense is good and there are hits coming from more than one player in the lineup. The team has enough to give breathing room to those who need to get out of their slump. They are making me believe.

Season (10-8) Player of the Game: VLADAMIR GUERRERO JUNIOR (1) WELCOME TO THE PARTY

Season PotG: WINS: Berrios (2), Bassitt (2), Biggio (1), Schneider (1), Turner (1), Kikuchi (1), Varsho (1) LOSSES: Springer (2), Varsho (2), Kiermaier (1), Schneider (1), Bichette (1), Garcia (1)

The Rest of the East

Tampa Bay (10-8) - Another defining game in the AL East today. The Rays are good enough to hang around and get the win in extras against a team like the Angels. What are they going to look like in their first series against the Yankees? Thankfully, we won’t have to wait long as they play the Yankees in New York in their next series.

Baltimore (11-6) - Crushed the Twins and the Orioles get to go for the sweep tomorrow. What a great time for the Yankees to run into a potential lost series to a sweep as the Orioles find their own potential sweep at home.

New York (12-6) - They had a fight of a game on their hands and they nearly tied it in the ninth but the Blue Jays had enough runs and enough pitching to close the door before the dangerous top of the lineup could get another chance. Two hits from the top 5 in the lineup will not get the job done against a team like the Blue Jays. The Jays’ bats have woken up enough to make those outs hurt and the Jays’ pitching needs gains confidence when they sit down the big bats. The series is lost, but salvaging a win before they leave town will go a long way to keeping their spot at the top of the division for a while longer.

Boston (9-9) - I can’t think of a better game to describe the 2024 Red Sox. Power with just enough pitching to be in the game, but not enough of either to catch up or put the game out of reach.

Thanks for reading.