Blue Jays AL East Recap: Jays Struggle to Use Momentum

Each week, Jays Journal will take a look at the bigger picture of the AL East to help frame not only where the Blue Jays are in the standings, but why they are there.

Baltimore Orioles: 40-28
Boston Red Sox: 39-29
Toronto Blue Jays: 39-33
New York Yankees: 34-35
Tampa Bay Rays: 31-36

Despite finding their power for the better part of the week, the Blue Jays dropped the last two games against the division-leading Baltimore Orioles. Entering Saturday, the Jays were but a game behind, now after two losses the Jays sit three games back in the AL East.

This is made more frustrating due to the fact that the Jays will not play a division foe for close to a month after a lengthy stretch against their rivals.

Even with the frustrating weekend, the Blue Jays saw many positives. The offence exploded, even after losing Jose Bautista to the disabled list with a toe injury. The bullpen, outside of Sunday’s finale in Baltimore, was as a whole rather stunning, much better than the Jays have seen this season.

The starting pitching had trouble at the beginning and end of the week, but spectacular starts by Marco Estrada, J.A. Happ, and Aaron Sanchez highlighted the week. The Blue Jays also saw star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki return from the DL. The Jays will need to capitalize on recent momentum outside of their division to stay relevant with their rivals.

Final Takeaway:
Despite failing to make up significant ground in the AL East, the Blue Jays rode a four-game win streak to remain relevant against division foes. As long as the Blue Jays stay consistent, they will remain in the mix. A key factor come time to choose if they are buyers or sellers.

Let’s take a look at the rest of the division…

Next: Orioles are sole Kings of the castle

Orioles dispatch foes to take first

Baltimore Orioles: 40-28

The Orioles established their dominance over the East this week, dispatching the Red Sox to take sole possession of first place and later silencing the upstart Blue Jays to ensure that their superiority held.

Their bats were once again solid, but excellent pitching was their calling card for most of the week, supplementing their great offence and tight bullpen led by Brad Brach and Zach Britton.

Baltimore received support for their taxed rotation as Yovani Gallardo came off the disabled list and did what he does best: silence the Blue Jays. Putting him back into the rotation could inject some much-needed support to Baltimore’s weakest area and provide ace Chris Tillman with a much-needed wingman. The Orioles will start the next week without Manny Machado as he serves out the remaining three games of his four-game suspension.

Final Takeaway:
The Orioles spent this week consolidating power and ensuring they were the top dog in the division. With an appetizing schedule in front of them, they will look to further ensure they remain on top.

Next: Red Sox Down, but certainly not out

Yankees struggle to capitalize on success
New York Yankees: 34-35 

It was a week of frustration for the Yankees. Despite playing outside of the division and against some weaker competition, the Yankees failed to produce much momentum.

They were swept in a two-game series by the Rockies before winning three of four against the lowly Twins. Their own successes were overshadowed by the successes of the teams above them, so despite playing decently they still remained in a relative position to the way they started the week.

Their rotation has looked much better in recent weeks, and their relief corps is as good as ever. With a consistent offence producing, their failures really are not indicative of how the Yankees have been playing. They are a good team, they just continue to be outperformed by both foes and division rivals. The Yankees will look to gain some real ground as they face an identical schedule this week.

Final Takeaway:
The Yankees shortcomings are not all at the fault of the Yankees themselves. They will look to turn things around and turn into the contenders they can be in the week ahead.

Next: Rays continue to flounder at the bottom

Rays struggle to make a splash

Tampa Bay Rays: 31-36

Time is quickly running out for the Rays to make up any ground in the division. Despite winning the series against the Mariners, they ended the week on a four-game losing streak.

After getting swept by the Giants this weekend the Rays now possess the worst record in the American League East. With most of their rivals well above .500 the Rays will need to actively make up ground against their foes to prove that they are still in this.

Once again, consistency has been the name of the game for the Rays, and while they have at least begun to find that, they have not found anything exceptional. Their offence has been fine, rather than great. Their rotation has been serviceable, rather than stellar. The Rays will get a four-game set against the Orioles this weekend, which could prove to be the make or break point for their season.

Next: Blue Jays weekly minor league recap, level by level

Final Takeaway:

The Rays have struggled to make a splash among their parity rich Division Foes. With the clock ticking, the Rays will need to put in extra work to force themselves into the picture.