Blue Jays' starters faltered, but bats were equally ineffective against the Twins

The 2025 version of the Toronto Blue Jays could win in different ways. They could jump out and score runs early. They led the league in come from behind wins. They could just as easily win a low-scoring close game as they could run up the score. That kind of variety is needed if you're going to win 90+ games - but in 2026 they haven't been able to replicate any of those winning ways with any consistency.

At 6-9 after this past weekends series, dropping the final two games against the Minnesota Twins, there were some patterns throughout the three games that showcased where the issues were for the Blue Jays, and what they'll have to overcome in the coming days.

Blue Jays starters and their lineup needed to be better this weekend

Let's start with the starters. Patrick Corbin, Eric Lauer and Max Scherzer took the ball for the home side in this three game set, and none of them looked particularly great. Corbin, making his Blue Jays debut, went four innings and gave up four runs on six hits, striking out three hitters and allowing two home runs. He threw just over 80 pitches, but battled through those four innings and was almost lucky to only have allowed those four.

Lauer had one of his worst outings as a Blue Jay, giving up seven runs on five hits in 5.1 innings pitched. He walked five, struck out three and also allowed two home runs. Although, every run he gave up came in the third inning and it unraveled off a mis-play in the outfield from Daulton Varsho.

Scherzer lasted just 2.1 innings and gave up eight runs on five hits. He also allowed two home runs, while walking two and striking out three. He was said to be battling forearm tendinities, but his velocity was up from his previous outing. Regardless, the starters combined for 11.1 innigns pitched, six home runs, 18 earned runs on 16 hits and eight walks. Scherzer and Lauer were late offseason additions to the rotation, in the wake of other injured pitchers, and Corbin was signed on an emergency one-year deal to also combat injuries. However, the Blue Jays could of used an extra clean inning or two from each of these guys.

Or maybe, it wouldn't have made a difference. While they were able to overcome the deficit on Friday night, winning 10-4, getting down 7-2 on Saturday, and 8-1 on Sunday, both before the fourth inning, the bats had no punch back, taking the L's in those contests.

On Saturday, they looked lifeless, getting just five hits in the game and two walks, meaning they barely had bodies on the bags and went 0-for-3 with RISP, and left three men on base. On Sunday, while they trailed 8-1 after three innings, they had plenty of chances to chip away and make a dent in the score. But despite the 12 hits, the Blue Jays went 2-for-14 with RISP and left 12 men on base. The Blue Jays also worked four walks, got three hits each from Varsho and Ernie Clement, while Eloy Jiménez and Andrés Giménez combined to go 4-for-8, they also had three of the teams nine strikeouts.

And that's been the issue for the Blue Jays in the games they have lost so far this season. The Blue Jays are hitting .226 with no home runs with runners in scoring position. In their nine losses, as a team they have a .184/.260/.300 slash line. It's been an unfortunate trend in the early part of the season, that needs to change course eventually in order for the team to have more success.

The Blue Jays need a reprieve. Even though it's true what Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said after Saturdays game, they could use at least one player getting hot at the right time. Vladdy told reporters, “This is not the NBA (where) one guy scores 45 points and the team wins. In baseball, everybody in the lineup has to do his part. I'm going to go out there and do my job and the rest of the guys have to do their jobs, too." But if one guy can maybe start hitting 45 points higher with guys on base, it would go a long way toward helping the team win.