Blue Jays Player of the Week: Kevin Pillar

The Blue Jays enjoyed a much improved week over the last. They went 5-1 and clinched a trip to the promised land after 22 years in the wilderness. Elements of their game were still a bit rough (as evidenced by the wild 10-8 affair versus the Rays) but a healthy dose of luck and heroics carried them through. They continued to show the Yankees just how much better of a team they are running up the lopsided season series to 13-6. The Rays were pesky and feisty as always but the Rays hadn’t faced the Blue Jays since Toronto’s deadline deals and the Jays showed just how much they had improved as a result.

The Blue Jays scored 32 runs and allowed 23. They have a mere (we certainly wouldn’t have used the word “mere” at the beginning of the season) post-season berth locked up but the Jays have their eyes fixed on the AL East title now. Even if the Jays lose all of their remaining 7 games, they have a better than 50/50 shot at the AL East. A measly one win increases those chances to 80%. At the risk of jinxing things, they’ve nearly got the East in the bag. They’ll have a 50% shot at clinching the whole American league if they can go 3-4.

As a group offensively, the Jays had a 147 wRC+ and scored 5.33 runs/game this week. Really only Edwin Encarnacion and Ryan Goins struggled out of anyone with more than a few plate appearances. In 22 ABs Jose Bautista had 5 walks and 5 hits including 2 home runs and a double. Josh Donaldson had the most exciting hit of the week with his walk off dinger yesterday. In total he had 2 homers, a double, 3 singles and 8 walks in 20 ABs. Russell Martin only had 2 hits in 13 ABs but both were home runs and he added 4 walks. Justin Smoak had 22 ABs this week (at the expense of Chris Colabello who only had 3) and made the most of them with 2 doubles, a home run and 4 singles. Kevin Pillar blew them all out of the water with a sensational offensive week. He had 5 doubles, 2 home runs, 3 walks, 4 singles and 5 stolen bases in 21 ABs. Slash line? .524/.583/1.048.

The relievers had an ERA of 3.31 and a FIP of 4.98. Brett Cecil innings streak with no earned runs against is now at 29.1. He threw 2.1 IP and struck out 6 with 1 walk/hit against.  Roberto Osuna notched 3 saves in 3.2 innings, allowed 4 walks/hits and one earned run. Liam Hendriks threw 3.1 innings, allowing an earned run, 2 hits, no walks and had 5 Ks.

The starters posted an ERA of 2.79 and a 3.07 FIP. David Price had one great start and one of his poorest of the season. In total he threw 12 innings with 4 earned, 10 walks/hits and 13 Ks. Marcus Stroman mastered the Yankees over 7 scoreless innings with 6 walks/hits and 5 Ks. R.A Dickey went 7 IP, allowing 2 earned, walked none, 4 hits and 2 Ks

Kevin Pillar gets awarded Player of the Week by a long shot. Huge offensive week to go along with his usual defensive exploits. 1.0 WAR by himself.

The Razzie goes to Mark Lowe having allowed 3 earned runs over 1.1 IP of relief.

Next: Blue Jays Rumours: Doug Fister

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