Kikuchi helps Blue Jays rebound from frustrating loss with convincing win over Dodgers

LOS ANGELES – For the Blue Jays, Tuesday evening’s sport was about as nice as sitting in L.A. visitors for three-plus hours solely to comprehend you’ve been going the mistaken manner the entire time. Wednesday afternoon, then again, was extra like a day on the seaside: somewhat too scorching, possibly, however nonetheless a nice reprieve from stress.

And for a Blue Jays group that’s misplaced greater than its share of heartbreakers in current weeks, a pleasant straightforward win over the Dodgers was the proper solution to wrap up their west coast highway journey. With Wednesday’s 8-1 win at Dodger Stadium, the Blue Jays preserve stress on the groups chasing them within the Wild Card race and return house for a collection in opposition to Shohei Ohtani and the Angels with a 57-46 file.

Granted, many extra challenges await this group even after a 3-3 journey by means of Seattle and Los Angeles. Ahead of Tuesday’s commerce deadline, they have to increase their place participant core and pitching workers whereas additionally competing in opposition to a scorching Angels group and the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles.

Blue Jays on Sportsnet NOW

The Streaming Home of the Blue Jays. Stream the Jays all season lengthy, plus marquee MLB matchups, the All-Star Game and Postseason.

Choose Plan

Full Schedule

.acf-block-preview .br-snippet {
show: grid;
grid-template-columns: 200px 1fr;
hole: 20px;
width: 100%;
margin: 0 auto;
padding: 16px;
border: 1px stable #CECECE;
background-color: #FFF;
border-radius: 4px;
}
.acf-block-preview .br-snippet-info a {
text-decoration: none;
}
.acf-block-preview .br-snippet-info .br-snippet-title {
colour: #343434;
font-family: ‘roboto’;
font-size: 20px;
font-weight: 600;
line-height: 22px;
margin-bottom: 10px;
prime: -3px;
}
.acf-block-preview .br-snippet-info .br-snippet-body {
colour: #343434;
font-family: ‘urw-din’;
font-size: 16px;
line-height: 20px;
margin-bottom: 12px;
}
.acf-block-preview .br-snippet-info .br-snippet-link-title {
show: inline-block;
font-family: ‘urw-din’;
font-size: 16px;
list-style-type: none;
width: auto;
}
.acf-block-preview .br-snippet-info .br-snippet-link-title:not(:last-child):after ‘;
colour: #343434;

But due to Yusei Kikuchi and a few highly effective swings from Whit Merrifield and Danny Jansen, the Blue Jays rebounded properly from a irritating Tuesday evening loss through which they blew a four-run lead with suspect pitching and defence. 

“What happened yesterday can only affect us negatively today,” mentioned Merrifield. “We did a great job of showing up today ready to play and salvaged the road trip.”

Making his twenty first begin of the season on a day that temperatures sat round 33° Celsius, Kikuchi pitched six innings of one-run ball, strolling two whereas hanging out eight. He lowered his season ERA to three.79 – and bear in mind, he was dealing with the National League’s most prolific offence

“We’re in a good spot,” Kikuchi mentioned by means of interpreter Yusuke Oshima. “We still have a few games to catch up if we want to win the East, but the clubhouse atmosphere is fine right now and we have the goal of winning a championship.”

As the afternoon wore on, Kikuchi displayed progressively extra emotion on the mound, ending his comply with by means of with a excessive leg kick at occasions and coming into a celebratory crouch of types after getting Miguel Rojas to finish the sixth.

“His year as a whole, he’s been really consistent,” mentioned supervisor John Schneider. “Without him, we wouldn’t be here.”

After watching Erik Swanson and Mitch White let a four-run lead disappear late Tuesday evening, the Blue Jays turned to a brand new set of relievers. On Wednesday, Jay Jackson, Tim Mayza and Trevor Richards mixed to pitch the ultimate three innings with out incident.

With the commerce deadline simply days away, the Blue Jays are at some extent within the season the place gamers on the perimeters of the roster might quickly be shuffled off of it. Case in level, Trent Thornton, who was dealt to the Mariners for minor-league infielder Mason McCoy earlier than the sport.

For each participant the Blue Jays add within the subsequent week, somebody must come off of the big-league roster, too. With a 7.11 ERA and 7 walks in simply 12.2 innings, White hasn’t pitched properly sufficient to earn a lot job safety past the deadline.

.acf-block-preview .br-video-thumbnail::earlier than {
content material: “”;
place: absolute;
prime: 45%;
left: 50%;
remodel: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-moz-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-ms-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-o-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-webkit-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
width: 20px;
peak: 0px;
border-top: 14px stable clear;
border-left: 22px stable #fff;
border-bottom: 14px stable clear;
margin-left: 3px;
}

On the place participant facet, Jordan Luplow’s grasp on a roster spot is perhaps thought of weakest, however Santiago Espinal’s identify might additionally floor in commerce talks because the Blue Jays search upgrades. As GM Ross Atkins mentioned final week, at a sure level the Blue Jays must contemplate shifting gamers off their lively roster.

Regardless of who they add on the deadline, a lot of the enchancment the Blue Jays search must come from inside and in that respect Wednesday’s eight run outburst was encouraging. Merrifield continued his energy barrage together with his fifth house run in his final 17 video games, a three-run shot within the fifth.

.acf-block-preview .br-video-thumbnail::earlier than {
content material: “”;
place: absolute;
prime: 45%;
left: 50%;
remodel: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-moz-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-ms-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-o-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-webkit-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
width: 20px;
peak: 0px;
border-top: 14px stable clear;
border-left: 22px stable #fff;
border-bottom: 14px stable clear;
margin-left: 3px;
}

The following inning it was Jansen who linked for his thirteenth homer, a drive he despatched over the left area wall in attribute trend. Considering he left Sunday’s sport after taking a 95 m.p.h. fastball to his forearm, it was a welcome growth for the Blue Jays.

That energy’s particularly essential at a time that Daulton Varsho, George Springer and Alejandro Kirk aren’t clearing many fences, although some assist could possibly be on the best way. Ideally, a right-handed hitter would give the Blue Jays a legit menace in opposition to left-handed pitching whereas deepening their general place participant core.

While many with the Blue Jays will spend the subsequent few days obsessing over potential strikes, Merrifield will not be amongst them. In truth, he’s relieved to not have to fret about being dealt after rumours surrounded him main as much as his commerce to Toronto a yr in the past.

“That’s not my job,” he mentioned. “I spent too a few years being concerned round commerce talks on the commerce deadline. I’m enthusiastic about not having any kind of thought on the subject of the trades this yr. Whatever Ross and people guys do, they’ll do it for the most effective of the membership. Whoever comes, if anyone comes, we’ll welcome them and attempt to make them really feel at house as rapidly as we are able to so they assist us win.”

In the approaching days, these discussions will attain a conclusion and the Blue Jays will know what their roster seems like for the stretch run. In the meantime, a convincing collection win over one of many NL’s finest group is an efficient place to start out.

More from Sportsnet

While diligence on Ohtani is a should, consider Blue Jays buzz at your individual threat

At the Letters: The Fast Approaching Trade Deadline

.acf-block-preview .br-related-links-wrapper {
show: grid;
grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr);
hole: 20px;
}

.acf-block-preview .br-related-links-wrapper a {
pointer-events: none;
cursor: default;
text-decoration: none;
colour: black;
}