Daunting stretch upcoming with no more Angels in the outfield

Next 16 Blue Jays games vs. playoff contenders

This young, inexperienced core of post-deadline Blue Jays position players performed well over the past 16 games and have set themselves a crowd-pleasing floor of efficiency with a still-developing skill-set. It is no doubt a positive for the organization upon which to build, but the true story of what may be in store for 2025 will be told over the next 16 games, and beyond.

The just-completed fortnight, two-plus weeks, against MLB non-contenders was a stretch over which the Jays truly needed to do well in the victory column to avoid a 90-loss season. They did manage to go an admirable 10-6, ending with a 7-2 victory over the Angels on Sunday, a team whose wings had been clipped long ago, now playing out the season. Hold that celebration.

Hard to really offer a convincing argument that this young Jays group showed it has what it takes when three of the five opponents over those 16-games beat the Jays in three game sets. All three of the A’s, Cubs and Reds won two of three, while the Jays took all seven games against the hapless Angels.

It should be noted that against the bottom-feeding Angels and White Sox, the Blue Jays are 12-1, while, against the 24 other teams they have played, Toronto’s record is 51-67.    

That is why the next 16 games is sure to test the mettle of this enthusiastic young group. Sure, the kids are playing for their personal stats in 2024, but, more importantly, they are auditioning for roles in 2025. Manager John Schneider summed up the things he was happy with that took place in the Angels’ 4-game sweep.

“They played really well, from starting pitching to the at-bats, the power, pretty good defence,” Schneider summarized. “Little things. Baserunning, like Will (Wagner) tagging up and going to second (on a foul flyball). They stayed on it. It’s not easy to sweep anyone at any time. It’s a good feeling for the young guys. It’s nice to go out and play good baseball.”

How challenging will be the next stretch of 16 games in 17 days, with 11 of them played on the road, all against teams either in playoff position or within spitting distance of a wildcard? The sequence of series shows: @Boston (5); @Minnesota (3); vs. Phillies (2); @Atlanta (3); vs. Mets (3). That group of five teams is currently a combined 58 games above .500.

“It starts with pitching, first and foremost,” Schneider said of the upcoming challenge. “They have to continue to be consistent. “From the young guys, it’s a cool environment to go up against good teams in their place.

“There’s always things to learn from. There’s always things that are going to be firsts, whether it’s someone’s first time at Fenway Park, or wherever you’re going. You kind of check that box. But I think it’s nice that the guys are going to be competing against good teams.

“Again, I’ve said it all along, you lean on the veterans to show the way a little bit and they’ve done such a good job and we’re going to continue to ask them to do that. But it’s a really, really good, I don’t want to say test, but it’s a good atmosphere for these young guys to be in.”

The Blue Jays gauntlet of contenders begins Monday afternoon with a pair of game against the Red Sox, including the final eight inning of a game suspended on June 26.

Odds ‘n ends from the suspended game:

John Schneider will be counting on pinch-hitters for five of the first seven hitters in his June 26 lineup. Four of them were traded away at the end of July deadline and one is on. the IL – C Danny Jansen, 3B Isiah Kiner-Falefa, CF Kevin Kiermaier, SS Bo Bichette (IL) and DH Justin Turner. Schneider can wait until he sees who’s pitching and send up his pinch-hitters in any order — except for DH.

The Jays lineup card that will be submitted to the umpires at home plate on Monday for the suspended game will include both the players on the June 26 roster, plus five others for a total of 13 position players. Not in the lineup, but eligible to enter the game for the Jays are: Alejandro Kirk, Brian Serven, Ernie Clement, Daulton Varsho, Joey Loperfido, Will Wagner, Leo Jimenez, Addison Barger and Steward Berroa.

Much has been written about the unique situation in which Red Sox catcher Danny Jansen finds himself. He will become the first player in MLB history to appear in a boxscore playing for both teams. In fact, he was the batter at the plate with a one-strike count from Kutter Crawford when the rains came. Jansen will simultaneously be pinch-hit for and also be subbed into the game for Reese McGuire to catch. Both of those catchers are former Blue Jays, with the big difference being that Jansen doesn’t shop at Dollar Tree. Oh yeah, another thing. When the game started, Jansen was the father of one. When it ends, he now has two children.

As for the complicated Blue Jays pitching situation, Yariel Rodriguez started the game on June 26 and easily could have resumed pitching, since Monday would be on regular rest, but Schneider moved everyone in the rotation back a day, so Y-Rod’s turn is now Tuesday.

Instead, RH Jose Berrios will start the early game, but because it’s technically the resumption of someone else’s start, Berrios will have to end his streak of 220 consecutive starts since Sept. 29, 2017 and will likely at the end of this season, have to settle for 31 starts, ending a streak of six straight full season (excluding the COVID year) in which he has made exactly 32 starts. And by the way, those 220 consecutive starts will officially be entered as 210 since this pseudo-relief appearance will jump ahead of his last 10 starts, post June 26. And, on his pitching record, Berrios will have his perhaps seven innings in relief on June 26 and a seven-inning start and a victory over the Yankees on June 27. La Makina.

Schneider’s only observation about the busy lineup card and the man handing it in to umpires at home plate: “(Bench coach Demarlo Hale) is bringing 14 markers and some white out.”