The Blue Jays could have used this Orioles series this weekend as a way of reestablishing leverage and keeping a foothold on some of the goings-on in the AL East. Instead, they dropped 2 games, including a walkoff, and the story is instead how the Orioles are quietly gaining momentum. Nice going.
The odd thing is, the loss of Dylan Cease, at least for a little while, didn't seem to heavily affect this team's leverage. Even without Cease, they still have Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage and Patrick Corbin moving the needle. They could have had Eric Lauer in a time like this, with two open rotation spots being given to bullpen days, but apparently the Dodgers needed him more. Gausman, ultimately, has regained the ace mantle, and has been once again on target, with a 3.13 ERA and 66 Ks, plus a 1.087 WHIP. Gausman is continuing his strong work from 2025, and has remained one of the most consistent starting weapons of the decade. Since 2021, Gausman has made all his starts, struck out over 160 batters, won at least 10 games, and finished with an ERA lower than 3.85. Remember when every pitcher could do that for six seasons? Now Gausman, who we all thought was cooked after a rough 2019 in Atlanta, is one of a few who can. And I'm very happy for him.
Also once again going for the attendance award is bafflingly inconsistent starter Patrick Corbin, whose unpredictability made him a pariah after his Nats contract ended. In actuality, Corbin hasn't really been hurt since his 2014 surgery, and has made all his starts every year since then. Now...the material isn't always STELLAR...and from 2021 to 2023 Corbin led the league in losses, but his time in Arlington represented a surprising step forward, even if his second half was inferior to his first. Now in Toronto, Corbin being seventh in line to start led to a relatively early rotation promotion [thanks to the Scherzer injury], and since then he's been shockingly reliable. He's got a 3.65 ERA and 36 Ks, even if his WHIP is up at 1.358. All Corbin really needs to do is fulfill the Chris Bassitt role and eat innings, and he's certainly doing that. And meanwhile, behind them, Trey Yesavage is having a very strong full year of work, with a 2.19 ERA in 7 starts,
Beyond that core three, and Louie Varland who's been absolutely untouchable in a prime relief role, the Jays don't have a ton to report recently. They've remained relatively steady, and are only 2 games under .500, but the x-factor of 2025 is basically gone. The 'uncommon men' group isn't doing nearly as much as last year, with Barger hurt, Straw struggling, Schneider demoted and Clement, despite the contact parade, a few steps down from last year overall. There's just less overall depth, and with Jesus Sanchez down with a freak 'catch-playing' injury, the indestructibility is also questionable. Vlad and Varsho are doing everything they can but the full squad effort isn't where it was last year.
But, again, it is still relatively early, and the Jays haven't committed enough faults to be dangerously out of the way. So it could all come back. After all, these Jays teams have a tendency to get hot in June, and look what starts tomorrow..
Coming Tomorrow- He was practically untouchable in May. Can he do what no Phils pitcher has done in years and carry a Cy Young case all the way through?
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