The Toronto Blue Jays have an opportunity to strengthen their playoff challenge when they face the Athletics in the final game of their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon.
Toronto enters the contest with a 73-73 record, sitting one game behind the Cleveland Guardians for the final American League wild-card position. With only 16 games remaining, every result carries added importance.
The series finale begins at 3:05 p.m. ET and 12:05 p.m. PT from Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. The game will be available in Canada on Sportsnet.
Toronto Responds After Frustrating Opening Loss
The Blue Jays experienced a difficult start to the series when defensive mistakes contributed to a 6-5 loss on Monday. They responded strongly one night later, defeating the Athletics 4-2 to bring the series level.
José Soriano provided the stability Toronto needed on the mound. The right-hander worked seven innings and allowed only two solo home runs. Spencer Miles then completed the final two innings to secure the victory.
Using only two pitchers on Tuesday was particularly valuable for Toronto. Six pitchers were required during Monday’s defeat, but Soriano’s long outing gave most of the bullpen an extra day to recover ahead of Wednesday’s finale.
A win would give Toronto a fourth consecutive series victory and maintain the positive momentum it has built during a critical stretch of the season.
Braydon Fisher Opens a Blue Jays Bullpen Game
Toronto will begin the game with Braydon Fisher on the mound. It will be his ninth start of the season, although he has primarily worked as a reliever.
Fisher has recorded a 3.20 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP through 70.1 innings, striking out 68 batters. The 26-year-old has also produced five consecutive scoreless appearances.
The right-hander previously faced the Athletics twice in March, retiring every batter he encountered over 2.1 combined innings.
Because Fisher is being used as an opener, Blue Jays manager John Schneider will need several relievers to cover the remaining innings. Toronto’s improved bullpen availability following Tuesday’s game should make that plan easier to manage.
Brady Basso Starts for the Athletics
The Athletics will counter with left-hander Brady Basso, who is also unlikely to work deep into the game.
Basso enters the contest with a 1-2 record, a 4.32 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP over 33.1 innings. He has made four starts this season, but none has lasted longer than three innings.
This means both clubs are expected to rely heavily on their relief pitchers. Bullpen performance and late-game matchups could therefore determine the outcome.
Toronto may also look to take advantage of an Athletics team that owns a 58-88 record and one of the poorest run differentials in Major League Baseball. However, Oakland has already shown its ability to disrupt the Blue Jays’ playoff push by winning the opening game of the series.
Kazuma Okamoto Reaches 30 Home Runs
Kazuma Okamoto continues to provide Toronto with important power during his first MLB season.
Okamoto homered in each of the first two games against the Athletics. His solo shot on Tuesday was his 30th home run of the campaign, making him the first Blue Jays rookie to reach that mark.
He also became only the fifth Japanese player to hit at least 30 home runs in an MLB season. The achievement adds another notable chapter to a debut year in which Okamoto has quickly become one of Toronto’s leading offensive threats.
Josh Smith also contributed on Tuesday by hitting a solo home run immediately before Okamoto. It was Smith’s fifth homer since joining the Blue Jays.
American League Wild-Card Race Remains Tight
Toronto’s victory moved the club back to .500 and kept it within one game of Cleveland. The Blue Jays cannot secure a playoff position in this series, but dropping games against a struggling opponent would make their path considerably more difficult.
The schedule is about to become even more important. Following Thursday’s day off, Toronto will return home for six games against the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers, two teams also involved in the crowded wild-card picture.
Before turning its attention to those matchups, Toronto must finish its work in California. A victory over the Athletics would secure another series win and ensure the Blue Jays return home with their playoff hopes firmly intact.