3 Things We Learned From Blue Jays-Rays Playoff Preview

The Blue Jays decimated the Rays Friday. Here are the biggest takeaways from the win.

TORONTO – The Blue Jays waltzed closer to a playoff berth Friday, knocking off the Rays 11-4 in the first leg of an important three-game series.

Toronto recorded 16 hits, bludgeoning the Rays early and never looking back. Confidence should be high for the Jays as their magic number drops to one. Beyond the obvious clinch implications, this matchup against the Rays carried extra importance. It was an AL wild-card preview of sorts, and there was plenty to glean before this contest turned into a tire fire.

Here’s what we learned about how Toronto can defeat Tampa in a prospective wild-card series.

Bottom of Jays order must come clutch

This isn’t much of a secret, but the Blue Jays’ top four can’t be relied on to carry the load. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer, and now even Bo Bichette (.730 OPS since July 1) have all battled inconsistencies, leaving the offense in flux. That leaves the likes of Matt Chapman, Alejandro Kirk, and Kevin Kiermaier to step up.

It was Kirk who broke things open Friday with a solo homer in the second, his eighth of the year. After that, the Jays offense came to life, punching in three runs in the third inning. The tallies kept coming after that, too, beginning with a massive Brandon Belt bomb and then a Cavan Biggio little-league homer (more on that later).

The Blue Jays might not have the middle-of-the-order pop the Rays do with the likes of Randy Arozarena, Isaac Paredes, and Yandy Diaz, but they have more capable hitters at the bottom — when those players produce of course. Come playoff time, watch for Toronto’s 7-8-9 hitters to deliver some of the extra-base pop that pushes the club over the edge.

Banged up Rays defense looks shaky

At one point this season, the Rays had one of baseball’s sharper defenses. That’s no longer the case with Wander Franco, Jose Siri, and Brandon Lowe (Tampa’s three top defenders, per OAA) out for playoffs. For example, Tampa now has two rookies manning the middle infield, a job that’ll only grow more stressful during the postseason, assuming the club uses the same duo.

Friday was atrocious for the Rays’ defense, starting with Manuel Margot in center. The typically sure-handed outfielder goofed a fly ball that clanked off his glove. One inning later, Margot committed an outfielder’s cardinal sin by letting a rolling ball scoot past his glove. Cavan Biggio chugged all the way around the bases as the ball tumbled all the way to the center-field wall. The embarrassing play was ultimately scored a single and an E8.

The Rays are obviously better than the three errors they committed Friday, but if Toronto makes Tampa Bay’s defense work, good things might just happen.

Pitch Yandy Díaz (and Randy Arozarena) carefully

Díaz will receive MVP votes this season; he’s been that good. The Rays corner infielder possesses menacing line-drive power and an eagle eye at the dish, making him very hard to put away. He homered Friday with a 427-foot missile to left field, only emphasizing the danger he presents to Jays pitchers.

Big Yandy is the man to watch, but Arozarena’s playoff resume can’t be ignored either. The 28-year-old is having a decent year (.787 OPS), but his regular-season numbers pale in comparison to his jaw-dropping October slash lines. In 31 postseason appearances, Arozarena is slashing .333/.417/.701 with 11 home runs and 17 RBI. Wild stuff.