Blue Jays on another level over dominant stretch

Prior to all the changes, the Blue Jays were treading water around the break-even mark while leading the American League in run differential, having outscored their opposition by 94 runs over the first 101 games while sitting at 50-51. And yet getting swept this weekend wasn’t as much about them as the hottest team in baseball.

The Blue Jays haven’t made the playoffs since then, but their recent run amid a flurry of trades at the deadline has the city and the clubhouse buzzing. He waited slightly longer than Donaldson in his at-bat, driving a 1-0 fastball to left field off an advertisement in front of the second deck. And LaTroy Hawkins, who came over from the Rockies in the same trade, smiled when asked about the vibe around his new team these days. “He brought in guys who have really fit in”. No matter how you look at it, this team is a potential nightmare for any team.

Estrada (10-6) kept New York’s risky lineup off balance all day, masterfully mixing his 77 miles per hour changeup with a 90 miles per hour fastball and slow curve. The combination of Price, Tulowitzki, Lowe, Revere, and Hawkins turns up just a 1.6 WAR, hardly the kind of improvement that can explain going from eight games out of first place to 1.5 games out in under two weeks.

Fresh off an impressive major league debut, Luis Severino will make his second start for the Yankees as they open a three-game series at Cleveland.

The shocker was the nature of the sweep. Since 2009, they have been in the top five in home runs every year but one (they were sixth in 2012 and Jose Bautista missed two months that year).

Yet it was a low-scoring series overall, as the Yankees were shut out in consecutive games for the first time since 1999 – ending the longest such streak in major league history.

“I thought he threw the ball pretty good today”. These three are the Yankees biggest bats and Toronto somehow managed to silence all three of them. However, critics argue that with David Price entering free agency after this season, the Jays gave up too many valuable pitching prospects for a rental. “Offense is tough to predict”, Girardi said.

Meaning that he expects the Yankees to start pounding the ball again, but at the very least, there has to be concern about Jacoby Ellsbury, who hasn’t been the same since his knee injury – he’s hitting.

And there is always the possibility that the 40-year-old Alex Rodriguez will hit the wall at some point.

Adeiny Hechavarria of the Marlins had the first walk-off hit of his career, a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth. In the four previous games, before the Toronto series, the Yankees scored a combined 28 runs, giving up only 9.

While numerous Blue Jays are experiencing pennant-race baseball for the first time, Price has been here before. “To me, that’s why I play this game and I want to be on a team where that’s the way everyone plays this game because it’s all about winning”.

“He’s been great”, Smoak said.

“Everything seems more in reach”, Bautista said. “There’s not time for panic for us”.

Cashman said no one in the organization figured the division was wrapped up when the Yankees had a six-game lead.