Blue Jays AL East Recap: Jays plummet from the top spot

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

Boston Red Sox: 80-62
Baltimore Orioles: 78-64
Toronto Blue Jays: 78-64 (2.0 GB)
New York Yankees: 76-66
Tampa Bay Rays: 60-82

It was a rough week for the Toronto Blue Jays. Entering play on Monday, they were positioned with a one game lead in the East. They enter today’s series against the Tampa Bay Rays tied for second with Baltimore and two games back.

The trouble started in New York where the Blue Jays  were swept in three games. Things did not get easier against Boston, as the Jays narrowly avoided a sweep with a win Saturday night. Despite the rough week, of course, the Blue Jays are still in the mix. Toronto remains only two games behind Boston, and have a two game hold on the second Wild Card spot. With some luck, and a better week, the Blue Jays could find themselves back in the driver’s seat.

The Blue Jays struggles were on all fronts. Their bullpen has continued to be the most pressing concern all season, and it continues to be adequate at best. The prolonged struggles with the once-dominant rotation are more apparent than ever.

Blue Jays starters were decimated by opponents this week and didn’t have the offence to back it up. The bats were mostly quiet and failed to produce in key situations, but most frustrating was the defence. Normally, the Blue Jays rank near the top on fielding defence, but you would not have known that this week.

Multiple miscues costed the Blue Jays runs, and ultimately, games. The Blue Jays were hit hard by the Rays last time around and a win today would go along way in determining if the Blue Jays week was a fluke.

Final Takeaway:

It was a week the Blue Jays would like to forget. Toronto’s schedule does not get any easier, so an early week win would help in determining Toronto’s playoff fate.

Next: Boston holds the crown in the East for now

Boston in Command
Boston Red Sox: 80-62

The Boston Red Sox followed consecutive series wins to a 4-2 week, and division lead. While the Jays fumbled against the Yankees early in the week, the Red Sox gained the lead and did not relinquish it.

They further consolidated their lead by taking two of three against the Jays to end the week. With the rest of the A.L. East spending their time duelling among themselves, every game will be key. With Boston, Toronto, Baltimore, and New York all in contention every series will matter over the final few weeks of the season.

Boston’s offence led the charge, as it usually does, outscoring opponents 40-19. David Ortiz now sits at 18th on the all-time home run list after his go-ahead home run last night. The only other time Ortiz homered off Joaquin Benoit was a grand slam to tie game two of the 2013 ALCS.

Boston’s rotation has continued to perform better than ever. Rick Porcello now leads all of baseball with 20 wins while David Price continued a string of hot starts.

Final Takeaway:

The Red Sox are hot at the right time. While their opponents have stumbled, they have succeeded. Don’t expect Boston to slow down any time soon.

Next: Orioles back at it, locked up with Jays

Yankees gain in race
New York Yankees: 76-66

The Yankees entered the week a dark horse candidate for the Wild Card spot. A week, and seven-game win streak later, they are dark horse candidates for first.

With the Blue Jays’ struggles, the Yankees now sit just 4.0 games back for first and two back in the WC Race. The Yankees started their dominant week by sweeping the first Blue Jays, before taking two of three from the Rays. Tampa Bay has enjoyed it’s role as pesky spoiler and stung the Yankees last night to stop their streak

The Yankees are perhaps the only team to benefit by their remaining schedule. Playoffs are within their grasp only because they compete with division foes for the rest of the year. Even a series win against a division rival could leap frog them into a Wild Card spot.

The Baby Bombers continued to do just that as young and old players led a strong offensive showing for New York. In addition to that, the questionable Yankees rotation produced a quality week. This, in turn, helped to relieve some taxed relievers.

Final Takeaway:

The Yankees are now firmly invested in the playoff race. With continued success, and some luck, the Yankees are looking at a return trip to the post season.

Next: Are the Rays the Reaper once again?

Those pesky Rays
Tampa Bay Rays: 60-82.

For a team that has no hope at making the playoffs, the Rays find themselves with a lot of power. As the A.L. East teams spend the rest of the season duelling with each other, the Rays, more than any other team, could have the most impact.

Winning against a tough division leader is hard enough, but when the worst team in the division makes you fight tooth and nail every game things get quite interesting. The Rays successfully took one game away from the Orioles and Yankees, temporarily halting their playoff bid. Tampa Bay could end up being Baltimore and New York’s greatest asset, though.

The plummeting Jays have been held in check all year by the Rays, so a repeat series win against them could sign two tickets to the postseason and end Toronto’s hope of a return trip.

Next: Exploring the Blue Jays and one run games

The Rays have been scrappy going down the stretch. They’ve lost good players to injuries but have kept up the fight. Their continued perseverance will continue to be the ultimate thorn in the AL East’s side. With the season winding down, the Rays could pull off the ultimate revenge fantasy by pulling down a playoff competitor with them. If the Rays can continue to spoil, they may just be able to achieve that.