Series recap: Offence goes cold as Blue Jays drop two of three to Pirates

That’s not what you want to see in a pennant race.

Starting Monday, the Toronto Blue Jays played a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, dropping two of three to the bottom-dwelling team. Let’s take a look at what went wrong.

On Monday, the Jays took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third, but the Pirates tied it in their next turn up. It was tied going into the seventh, before the errors for the Blu e Jays started. In the end, the Pirates defeated the Jays 5-2.

The Jays got back in the win column on Tuesday . They jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, added two more in the second, and an Alejandro Kirk two-run blast gave them a 7-1 lead late in the game. The Pirates scored twice before the end of the game, but ultimately fell 7-3.

That set up a rubber match for Wednesday afternoon’s game . Things started well for the Blue Jays, as George Springer hit his 61st career lead-off home run to give the Jays an early lead, but Chris Bassitt ran into some trouble in the bottom of the first, with Tommy Pham hitting a two-run double. That was all the scoring in the game, as the Jays lost 2-1.

The starting pitchers gave the Jays a chance to win in all three games. Chris Bassitt allowed two earned runs, but pitched five and two-thirds innings for a 3.18 ERA. Kevin Gausman also allowed two earned runs in five innings, taking a no-decision in Monday’s game. Max Scherzer pitched six strong innings, giving up one run for his sixth quality start in his last seven games. Ace.

As for their bullpen, it allowed five runs in the three games, only two of which were earned. Tommy Nance threw an inning with two strikes and an unearned run. Seranthony Domínguez appeared in two games, allowing two unearned runs, striking out two, and walking two in two and two-thirds innings. Yariel Rodríguez and Louis Varland each gave up an earned run. Jeff Hoffman, Brendon Little, and Braydon Fisher all pitched scoreless outings.

What sank the Blue Jays was their offence. Of the regulars, only George Springer (269 wRC+), Kirk (176 wRC+), and Bo Bichette (128 wRC+) had a wRC+ above 100. When including bench players, Myles Straw was the only other player who was above average in terms of wRC+.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was pulled from Monday’s game and took the next two days off, finishing with a -100 wRC+ in three plate appearances. Daulton Varsho, Tyler Heineman and Davis Schneider also had a -100 wRC+. Ty France (7 wRC+), Ernie Clement (23 wRC+), Addison Barger (36 wRC+), Andrés Giménez (43 wRC+), and Nathan Lukes (67 wRC+) all had subpar series.

The good news is that they have a chance to get back on track with a three-game weekend series against the Miami Marlins. Even more good news, Shane Bieber is the expected starter for Friday’s game.