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The Blue Jays welcome the best team in the American League in for the weekend. Which is more shocking would you say: that said best team is the Detroit Tigers, or that one of their very best players has been centerfielder Javy Baez?



Much of this early success for these Tigers can be traced to a pair of former first overall picks giving the team some quality production at long last. Casey Mize (1st overall in 2018) lost nearly two full seasons to popular not-friend Tommy John surgery after a very solid full debut season in 2021 (he's also currently on the IL with a hamstring issue so the Jays will miss him). Mize is an anomaly in today's MLB: he doesn't miss a whole lot of bats but doesn't surrender a whole lot of hits either. The trick is to give up those kinds of fly balls that don't travel so far and so fast, we pitchers really like those. 

Likewise Spencer Torkelson (first overall in 2020) who through his first three MLB seasons was looking very much the part of a fringey 1B/DH type that likely, even with the lofty draft position, could've been facing a potential non-tender this upcoming winter in his first go through arbitration. A blistering hot start to this season for Torkelson has lessened those fears considerably, though he has cooled off somewhat in the past couple weeks. No matter as Detroit have several other hitters who are producing: familiar veteran Gleyber Torres (weird to see with a beard), the aforementioned Baez comeback year, toolsy outfielder Riley Greene, right-handed-pitching-masher Kerry Carpenter, the amusingly named catcher Dillon Dingler (whose walk rate makes Ernie Clement look like Juan Soto) and journeyman utility guy Zach McKinstry. Aside from an absolute chasm at third base (sound familiar) this is a squad that's been getting something good from all over the diamond.     

It's gonna be a tough series! The Jays are fortunate to miss both the usually untouchable Tarik Skubal and the injured Mize, but will still have to find a way to score off Jack Flaherty (who has been better than the record and ERA suggests) Reese Olson and Jackson Jobe... Jobe in particular should be a fun one to watch (kid throws some serious gas). The Tigers bullpen is deep and awfully stingy as well (their 2.86 ERA is third in all of baseball) so it would be especially good to avoid trailing in the late innings me thinks. As Buck Martinez might say (probably will say), the Blue Jays are gonna have to put on their hitting shoes.

Matchups!

Fri 16 - Flaherty (1-5, 4.61) v. Francis (2-5, 5.40) -- 7.07pm
Sat 17 - Olson (4-3, 3.38) v. SomeGuy (probably Eric Lauer) -- 3:07pm
Sun 18 - Jobe (3-0, 4.32) v. Berrios (1-1, 4.33) -- 1:37pm

Gotta play 'em, might as well win 'em.

Detroit at Toronto - May 16-18 | 55 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
pooks137 - Friday, May 16 2025 @ 06:13 PM EDT (#460043) #
Michael Stefanic getting his 1st start of the year at 2B & batting 8th. Presumably a scheduled day off for Clement, who the broadcast keeps mentioning has been hitting over .400 over his last 10 games.

Clase starting in LF & hitting ninth.

Hopefully Stefanic or Clase can show some of the strokes they've had down in AAA. Because otherwise the starting 9 is only about 7 hitters long.
pooks137 - Friday, May 16 2025 @ 06:16 PM EDT (#460044) #
Santander also sitting with Springer at DH & Lukes in RF.

Varsho bumped up to the 3 spot.
GabrielSyme - Friday, May 16 2025 @ 06:24 PM EDT (#460045) #
The Tigers are somehow leading the major leagues in run differential, edging out the Yankees - they have, to date, been a very good team.

Normally, you'd say they're getting an advantage from playing in the Central division, but apart from the White Sox (who are just ordinary bad this year) everyone in the Central is above .500 by at least 4 games.

Even dodging Skubal, this will be a tough test for the Jays. They are a pretty left-handed lineup, so I'd expect to see Fluharty and Little leaned on fairly heavily this series.
pooks137 - Friday, May 16 2025 @ 06:32 PM EDT (#460046) #
Just found out that it's MLB "Rivalry Weekend" with mostly interleague games and geographic matchups.

The Jays & Tigers are an outlier as 11 of 15 matchups this weekend are interleague.

https://www.si.com/mlb/ranking-inaugural-rivalry-weekend-matchups

All-time record: 247–212, Blue Jays

Kind of surprised that the Jays have a +35 game edge in the historic series. The Jays were awful for the late 70s to mid 80s when the Tigers were powerhouse with Morris, Trammell, Whitaker.

I wonder how much the Tigers being awful for a decade since they traded David Price for AA's last stretch run. Although with the teams only really ever playing an annual home & home series with AL Central opponents, it would take many lopsided years to shift the ledger.
Glevin - Friday, May 16 2025 @ 06:40 PM EDT (#460047) #
One of the silly things about realignment is that all the Jays closest geographical rivals are in the central. Tigers were easily Jays #1 rival when I was a kid and the short drive/overlapping fanbases made it fun. You can drive to Detroit or Cleveland easily for a weekend in a way you can't for any other team (Pirates excepted but they're in other league).
Eephus - Friday, May 16 2025 @ 07:44 PM EDT (#460051) #
For a guy who had 4 games of professional centerfield experience coming into this season, that was one heck of a play by Baez. Go figure.
Nigel - Friday, May 16 2025 @ 07:50 PM EDT (#460052) #
That’s the third ball in the past few games that Clase has played poorly. Small sample size but he looks terrible defensively. I don’t think he’s long for the big club.
knuckeler - Friday, May 16 2025 @ 07:59 PM EDT (#460053) #
The Jays are definitely squaring the ball up more and hitting HR's lately but they have to be leading the league in balls hit to the warning track.
Nigel - Friday, May 16 2025 @ 08:33 PM EDT (#460055) #
Although the outcry has been for another big bat, their starting pitching is much more of a problem.
Nigel - Friday, May 16 2025 @ 08:39 PM EDT (#460056) #
On the positive side, the more I watch Barger the more I can actually see it. It’s all about some semblance of strike zone control for him.
lexomatic - Friday, May 16 2025 @ 08:39 PM EDT (#460057) #
For the first time my radio workaround streaming site has been blacked out. Finally found 1 michign station with the VPan, in time to hear McKinstry's HR. Announcers said the pitch was middle middle with not much happening.
Has anyone looked at charts for his good run last year vs this yewr to see if there are notable differences?
Would be nice to know if theres a mechanical reason to explain grooving more pitches.
Anyway, my broadcast got interrupted by a storm warning. When I checled the wcore, 4-0 so I think Im gonna forget the game for the rest of the evening
greenfrog - Friday, May 16 2025 @ 08:47 PM EDT (#460058) #
Well, there is another Toronto game happening at the moment…
Nigel - Friday, May 16 2025 @ 08:59 PM EDT (#460059) #
I have no idea why teams are pitching Varsho on the outer half but long may it last. Have these teams not watched the scouting report from the past 2 years?
Nigel - Friday, May 16 2025 @ 10:04 PM EDT (#460060) #
The Tigers put their 4th or 5th best reliever in the closer position tonight. What a concept.
Glevin - Friday, May 16 2025 @ 10:38 PM EDT (#460061) #
To be fair Brieske was the favourite for saves and maybe their #1 reliever going into the season. Not sure what Clase is doing up still. Looked completely overmatched on both sides of the ball and Jays have better options in AAA.
Michael - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 04:59 AM EDT (#460063) #
Varsho has 12 games played this season, but leads the team with 6 HR. Small sample sizes but the top 2 OPS for the Jays are Heineman and Varsho both above 900; Vlad and Springer (and Stefanic in 5 AB) in the 800s; Lukes, Bo, Barger, Straw, all mid-high 700s. Kirk and Clement struggling in the 600s, Santander, Gimenez, Roden, Wagner, Schneider, and Clase sub 600.

Jays as a team still being outhomered 67-40.
electric carrot - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 09:00 AM EDT (#460065) #
At the moment the AL East looks like the weakest division in the AL. It will be interesting to track how this plays out for the rest of the season. I expect Toronto and NY Yankees to be above .500 by the end of the season but I really don't know what to expect from Boston, Tampa and Baltimore.
Marc Hulet - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 09:25 AM EDT (#460067) #
Have to wonder if the shoulder surgery fixed an issue that's been bothering Varsho longer than initially thought. He hit 27 homers one year in Arizona but never showed that kind of pop with Toronto.
Glevin - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 12:14 PM EDT (#460069) #
Santander out of lineup with hip issue. They should just IL him and call up Roden/Schneider/Loperfido. He was struggling anyway so giving him a few extra days is fine and the Jays can't afford to have empty spots on the roster. (Clase should also be replaced by someone better)
mendocino - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 12:31 PM EDT (#460070) #
Orioles new rich owner and FO go cheap on pitching = fired manager
pooks137 - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 01:04 PM EDT (#460071) #
Clement gets the start at 1B today batting sixth with Vlad at DH, answering the question who the backup 1B on the current roster is with Wagner in AAA (at least with Santander day-to-day).

Clement played about 10 games or so at 1B in 2023 in Buffalo before being called up.
Cracka - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 01:34 PM EDT (#460072) #
I really don't like having Vlady as DH today, and leaving no infielder options on the bench. I would think that Straw (2B) or Heineman (1B) would only play in case of an injury, so if they need to make a substitution on the infield, they'll probably have to move Vlady to 1B and lose the DH.
dalimon5 - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 02:19 PM EDT (#460074) #
"Orioles new rich owner and FO go cheap on pitching = fired manager"

Blue Jays rich owner and FO go expensive on signings = immunity manager
Glevin - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 02:31 PM EDT (#460075) #
The problem for me is that the bench is catcher, Clase who is overmatched, and Santander who is hurt and can't play. Poor roster management. Three managers fired this year and none of them deserved it. Orioles are bad partly because they don't spend and partly because their GM is a prospect hugger.
electric carrot - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 03:51 PM EDT (#460076) #
Heinman is doing a really great impression of a good hitter if he is in fact not one.
Glevin - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 04:09 PM EDT (#460077) #
Feels like Lauer could have done another 1-2 innings. He threw 63 pitches last outing and only threw 41 (and more efficient) this game. Going to tax the bullpen for reasons I don't understand.
Nigel - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 04:09 PM EDT (#460078) #
I doubt Heineman has suddenly become a good hitter. But more than one C has had an unusual development curve. Heineman has a couple of things going for him. He looks to be above average defensively and he’s pretty fast (for a C). I could imagine him have a couple of pretty useful years as a backup.
dalimon5 - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 04:11 PM EDT (#460079) #
Likelihood of Heineman becoming this good is about the same as Santander becoming this bad.
Magpie - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 04:14 PM EDT (#460080) #
Hey, I'm back!

First baseball I've seen in a week. They seem somewhat preoccupied with hockey in Winnipeg.
SK in NJ - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 04:28 PM EDT (#460081) #
Either Lauer is hurt or the Jays are doing their usual "stick to the plan" nonsense because there was no reason to take him out after 3 innings there. Now the pen will have to eat up 6 innings, and Schneider will probably use all the good ones regardless of the score.
uglyone - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 04:55 PM EDT (#460082) #
pinch hitter Myles Straw.

argh.
Glevin - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 05:02 PM EDT (#460083) #
Blame shared by both on this PH for me. Horrible roster construction keeps biting them. They just don't have a good bench and it's largely a choice. On the other hand, Straw is a useful extra OF but shouldn't be pinch hitting for anyone. Schneider tends to go L/R pinch hitting no matter what.
dalimon5 - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 05:06 PM EDT (#460084) #
I'd be ecstatic if this FO hired Hyde...
Nigel - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 05:14 PM EDT (#460085) #
One heck of an AB by Kirk.
99BlueJaysWay - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 05:34 PM EDT (#460086) #
Great win. Terrible decision by Hinch, but thank you very much!
lexomatic - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 05:36 PM EDT (#460087) #
<There is an old truism (Bill James?) That any backup catcher who plays long enoigh will eventually hit .300 ( or have a good offensive season).

The numbers suggest Barger has been good at 3b. Thr broadcast also mentioned he'd looked good snagging LDs .
Ive enjoyed Barger's 2nd stint up. And Lukes has been a decent placeholder.

Wish Varsho hit the Hr
Glevin - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 05:38 PM EDT (#460088) #
Nice win. Feels like Jays wouldn't have won this game last year but have won a few like it this year.
BlueJayWay - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 05:42 PM EDT (#460089) #
Exciting win
Dr B - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 06:17 PM EDT (#460091) #
Thanks, Detroit! It's nice to be out-mismanaged once in a while.
Nigel - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 06:19 PM EDT (#460092) #
Great work by the pen today. Clement with another good game. He’s been great in May (117 wRC+) after a very slow April. It will be interesting to see what they do when Gimenez comes back. I’d guess it’s now Clement who sits rather than Barger but that has pluses and minuses. Although they’d never do it, Gimenez getting full time ABs shouldn’t be guaranteed.
scottt - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 07:14 PM EDT (#460093) #
Maybe it's the Detroit scouting that's at fault.
Walking Santander for Clement can be defended but attacking Clement with fastballs cannot.
greenfrog - Saturday, May 17 2025 @ 09:51 PM EDT (#460099) #
The Twins are on the verge of winning their 13th game in a row. They’re tied for first place in the AL WC race. And they’re preventing and scoring more runs than the Blue Jays (without Popkins as their hitting coach). Can we have some of what they’re having?
dalimon5 - Sunday, May 18 2025 @ 09:45 AM EDT (#460102) #
Not every great thing that happens to other teams needs to mean a failure for the Blue Jays or serves as a good comparison. I've learned from the Leafs this playoff season that sports won't follow a rule or performance pattern. The Twins have had Byron Burton fully healthy and contributing more than Vlad. That's a big reason. In the 12 games they've won the best pitchers they've faced were Garret Crochet and Logan Webb. The other 10 games were 6 against the Orioles, 3 against the Giants (they drew Jordan Hicks) and Brewers and a bullpen game against the Red Sox. Not exactly what we'd call a tough schedule. I think they've been fortunate as much as their coaches have done anything to make it happen. They've drawn some favourable match ups against teams right when they're struggling. The one thing is think helps them? They have a better manager (just my opinion against Schneider.)

Ben Rice, as an aside, is hitting .203 AVG .743 OPS 4HR 11 RBI over the past 30 days

Vlad is hitting .284 AVG .854 OPS 4HR 10 RBI in same span without any breaks against tougher pitching compared to Ben Rice who is given lots of opportunities to rest against tough pitchers.

I hope the Jays can go on a long win streak. I think it's on the players who would be the limiting factor because II do agree with the sentiment that if given the exact same teams to play at the exact same time these Blue Jays would go 7-5 or 8-4 at best.

Glevin - Sunday, May 18 2025 @ 01:52 PM EDT (#460104) #
That's a super unlucky first inning.
Cracka - Sunday, May 18 2025 @ 01:58 PM EDT (#460105) #
Bo can't get doubled off on that play. I understand wanting to be aggressive, but he had a great vantage point to judge that ball. Yet he stopped, looked, and then bolted towards 3rd as Baddoo was diving to catch the ball.
uglyone - Sunday, May 18 2025 @ 02:38 PM EDT (#460106) #
ah santander moved down to the 5-hole. that move may have already earned us one run.
Glevin - Sunday, May 18 2025 @ 02:43 PM EDT (#460107) #
Clutch Clement.
greenfrog - Sunday, May 18 2025 @ 05:01 PM EDT (#460108) #
I was surprised to see Fisher brought in to face Torkleson in the seventh with runners on base in a 2-2 game. That was a key point in the ballgame and Fisher is inexperienced. He threw two sliders and gave up the game-winning hit on the second one.

Also, Santander's ongoing woes again played a large role in the Blue Jays loss.
pooks137 - Sunday, May 18 2025 @ 09:35 PM EDT (#460109) #
I was surprised to see Fisher brought in to face Torkleson in the seventh with runners on base in a 2-2 game.

The pen was really short today because they pulled Lauer after 3 innings yesterday.

The broadcast put up an infographic showing who in the pen had pitched on Friday & Saturday, bolding anyone who had pitched both days as the Jays haven't had anyone throw 3 consecutive days all season.

Half the pen other than Garcia & Hoffman were bolded out and unavailable today.

Nigel - Sunday, May 18 2025 @ 10:12 PM EDT (#460110) #
Yeah, the pen options were pretty limited today. They really need a multi inning reliever, particularly without a 5th starter. A Ryan Yarbrough type would be pretty useful right now.
pooks137 - Sunday, May 18 2025 @ 10:44 PM EDT (#460111) #
That's also the mixed bag with them turning Yariel Rodriguez into a higher leverage reliever.

It's nice that he's had a run of success in shorter, late game outings.

But it also eliminates another long relief option in the pen in exchange for another 1-2 inning type for a team without a true 5th starter for the foreseeable future.

It also seems they don't trust Jose Urena either, as they've yanked him relatively early rather than trying to stretch him out.

At present, the bullpen really doesn't have many candidates to eat up garbage time innings like it did originally with guys like Jacob Barnes & Richard Lovelady types.
John Northey - Monday, May 19 2025 @ 03:17 PM EDT (#460115) #
Say, on a different note, does it bug anyone else when they celebrate a US holiday here? The stupid military celebration hats they wore this past weekend were for Memorial Day weekend stateside - something we don't have here as it is Victoria Day weekend here as we all know.
vw_fan17 - Monday, May 19 2025 @ 03:42 PM EDT (#460116) #
It's even weirder because the US Memorial Day isn't until this coming weekend.
mendocino - Monday, May 19 2025 @ 04:05 PM EDT (#460117) #
didn't have a special hat for "Rivalry Weekend"?

have to wait for Turnbull for a proper 5th starter, Lauer and bullpen till then
soupman - Monday, May 19 2025 @ 05:54 PM EDT (#460120) #
Yes, but it also bothers me that they play national anthems prior to the start of games and that police (civil servants) salute the flag(s).
Detroit at Toronto - May 16-18 | 55 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.