Blue Jays Drop Opportunity to Gain in AL Playoff Race

Opportunities for the Blue Jays to scale the American League standings haven't presented themselves often recently

Toronto isn't getting any help.

On July 30^th, the Blue Jays sat 8.5 games back of the AL East lead and 4.5 games out of a playoff spot. Two weeks and 12 wins later, Toronto still sit eight games back of the division lead and 3.5 out of a wildcard spot. Despite a 12-5 record in their last 17 games, the Blue Jays have gained little ground.

So, when the Athletics lost their first game in a week, the Yankees had an off day, and the Mariners faced Toronto themselves, Friday presented the Blue Jays with a rare opportunity to climb the wild card ladder. But, with early drives finding Seattle gloves, outs on the base paths, and a crushing ninth inning, Toronto ultimately failed to take advantage.

While the Texas Rangers finished off a comeback win over the A's, Vlad Guerrero Jr. turned stone-cold around first base. As Mitch Haniger jumped, cocked his wrist back, and snagged Guerrero’s first-inning deep fly off the right-field wall, the Blue Jay first basemen didn’t even flinch. Toronto’s game Friday began with missed opportunities — a Marcus Semien pop-up slide at second, Jared Kelenic traversing the outfield stealing early hits, and Haniger’s robbery of a slump-breaking homer.

But, the Blue Jays stuck around, receiving seven brilliant innings from Robbie Ray, drawing tie at two runs, and even pushing for a winning knock in the final frame. But, with Breyvic Valera called out at the plate upon replay review, the bottom of the ninth squashed Toronto’s opportunity.

Inch by inch Toronto’s win chances dropped, Adam Cimber nibbled at the corners, walked two, and gave up an infield dribbling hit to load the bases. Forced to come on with the bases loaded, Brad Hand gave up the final dagger — a four-pitch walk to force in the winning run.

"Everything didn’t go right that whole inning,” Montoyo said.

Heading into Friday, the Yankees and Athletics, two teams standing directly between the Blue Jays and October, were a combined 15-5. The AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays have scored at least eight runs in their last seven games. Despite one of the best records in baseball in the last month, the Blue Jays remain on the outside.

“Here in the clubhouse, we have one goal, just win,” Lourdes Gurriel Jr. said before the game. “Trying to go out there and win every game, we’re not looking or paying attention at whatever the other teams do.”

Even with the teams around them surging, and even with Friday’s crushing defeat, the Blue Jays are in complete control of their destiny — Gurriel and company can continue to focus on their own business. But, when opportunities to scale the standings present themselves, it’s in the Blue Jays' best interest to take advantage, because they don’t appear to be getting any help.