Blue Jays AL East Recap: Jays Fight to Stay in the Mix

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: 47-34
Boston Red Sox: 44-37
Toronto Blue Jays: 45-39
New York Yankees: 40-41
Tampa Bay Rays: 33-48

It was a gruelling seven days for the Blue Jays. Despite the difficult series against the Cleveland Indians, the Jays managed to put together a decent week overall.

Before splitting the series with the Indians, they took the series from the Rockies, giving them a winning week as a whole. The Blue Jays had to fight every step of the way and many questions linger for them as we approach the All-Star Break. How long will utility SS Ryan Goins be out? Will Marco Estrada need to miss significant time? Who takes over for him if he’s out? These are all the questions the Blue Jays answer in the near future.

These challenges, including the 19-inning loss on Friday, do not outweigh the positives the Jays saw this week. Troy Tulowitzki and Russell Martin have been an offensive revelation as of late, clearly turning the corner on whatever ailed them at the beginning of the season.

Seven members of the bullpen preserved a tie over the course of 10.1 innings, a feat which seemed impossible just a month ago. The Blue Jays also got a break in the standings as division foes faced some poor weeks, allowing the Blue Jays to enter play Monday just 3.5 games behind first.

Final Takeaway:

The week was rough around the edges, but helped push the Jays closer to the top of the division. They will push for continued success, despite many uncertainties, as they march towards the All-Star Break.

Next: Baltimore Orioles get wings clipped

Orioles struggle out West

Baltimore Orioles: 47-34

The Orioles faced a setback at the end of the week after enduring a four game sweep at the hands of the Seattle Mariners. The week started off well, as they dispatched the Padres in two games, but they couldn’t hold that momentum going into the weekend.

All four Orioles starters were handed the loss after failing to contain the Mariners offence. More surprising is the fact that the Orioles were outscored 31-14 over the weekend.

The normally dominant Orioles now sit only three games ahead of the second place Red Sox, and will look to get back into shape during this final week before the All-Star Break.

This week did see positives, though, as Mark Trumbo smashed his way to sole Home Run Lead with 24. Trumbo, combining with the rest of the offence, tied the MLB’s June Home Run Record.

Final Takeaway:

While this was not the week the Orioles wanted to have, they still have plenty left in the tank to finish off the first half of the season with their AL East lead intact. Their biggest concern should be whether their rotation can handle the workload.

Next: Red Sox keep up pressure

Boston maintains pace

Boston Red Sox: 44-37

The Red Sox rebounded from a rough start to the week. After losing the series to their lowly rivals, the Tampa Bay Rays, they took their second series from the Angels. Despite being blown out in Saturday night’s game, the Red Sox returned to form to fell Los Angeles.

While the Sox offence has been consistent, their rotation has become a bit of a plague lately. Clay Buchholz has all but assured that he’s out of the rotation after Saturday’s rout. This comes just after the Red Sox stated that they would be moving Righty Joe Kelly from rotation to bullpen after his return from the disabled list.

This isn’t to suggest things are all bad for the Boston’s front end. Rick Porcello and Steven Wright have been revelations, pitching at the highest levels of their career.

David Price, while more inconsistent than ever, is still a suppressing force. If these three can stick it out and enable their potent offence to hit, then the Sox should be able to weather the shakedown of their back end. Not to mention the power that their bullpen possesses.

Final Takeaway:

While their rotation woes might continue, as long as the Red Sox are hitting and their bullpen continues to be dominant, they’ll keep pace in the division race. Plus as trade rumours roil, the Red Sox always seem ready to spend.

Next: Yankees Fail to Gain Ground

Rays see hopes fade away

Tampa Bay Rays: 33-48

The Tampa Bay Rays limped out of the week, despite sprinting at the start of it. The Rays dazzled with a combination of power and pitching dominance against a division foe in the Red Sox, winning the three-game series.

It was the first time in a long time that the Rays looked as good as they did. The weekend showed us very little of that spark of greatness, as the Rays were handed a four-game sweep by the Tigers. The Rays are not only 14 games outside of first, but also miles from being a .500 team. With a difficult road still ahead of them before the break, Tampa Bays hopes for the season seem all but lost.

Despite having all the pieces for a winning ball club, they have demonstrated very little consistency all season. As we approach the second half of the season, and the trade deadline, it is hard not to imagine the Rays as dealers. They have some excellent players in their ball club, just none of them have been able to produce at the same time as often.

Final Takeaway:

Despite showing a brief glimpse of the team that they could be, the Rays once again regressed into the team they are to end the week. With the odds stacked against him, it is hard not to picture the AL East as being a four-team race now.