Toronto Blue Jays @ St. Louis Cardinals

[Randle McMurphy]

Don’t think we will be seeing Little the rest of this series after that effort that inning, even with all their LHbs. Better win this one now.

[Parataxis]

I am so glad that we added on that extra run to make it 6. Made those last two innings feel a lot more comfy.

Go Jays! We're tied for the 1st WC spot.

[Asianiac_24]

In a sea of negativity, time to give some props to some guys with lesser expectations entering 2025 who have been very good or solid for this team. Have been important to strengthening our bench / bullpen.

Heineman
Barger
Straw
Lukes

Little
Rodriguez
Fluharty
Lauer

I'll also note George Springer even though he is a starter has really stepped up his game.

They have made up for the fact that Guerrero, Bo, Gimenez, Santander, have either fell a bit short or well short of expectations. And the fact that we don't have a #4 starter.

Kirk has been arguably the most valuable player in our starting lineup as well. If Santander/Vlad can provide more power for our lineup, we would be killing it right now.

[johanliebert]

In a sea of negativity, time to give some props to some guys with lesser expectations entering 2025 who have been very good or solid for this team. Have been important to strengthening our bench / bullpen.

Heineman
Barger
Straw
Lukes

Little
Rodriguez
Fluharty
Lauer

I'll also note George Springer even though he is a starter has really stepped up his game.

They have made up for the fact that Guerrero, Bo, Gimenez, Santander, have either fell a bit short or well short of expectations. And the fact that we don't have a #4 starter.

Bo’s been the hottest hitter recently.

[JN]

In a sea of negativity, time to give some props to some guys with lesser expectations entering 2025 who have been very good or solid for this team. Have been important to strengthening our bench / bullpen.

Heineman
Barger
Straw
Lukes

Little
Rodriguez
Fluharty
Lauer

I'll also note George Springer even though he is a starter has really stepped up his game.

They have made up for the fact that Guerrero, Bo, Gimenez, Santander, have either fell a bit short or well short of expectations. And the fact that we don't have a #4 starter.

Bo’s been the hottest hitter recently.

Bo is the reason I added a "bit short" qualifier, instead of the well short which applies to the others.

He has been hot to get that OPS+ back up to 114... his average in his 3 full seasons prior to last year was around 125, so I see there being a little more from him over a full season.

[Mehar]

Not enough can be said about how solid Fluharty, Little, and Rodriguez have been out of the bullpen. As much as I rip the clowns in the front office, they deserve praise for acquiring all three guys. With injuries to key guys like Garcia and Sandlin, all three of them have stepped up time after time. Nice to see Hoffman strike out three batters also in the 9th and get the Save. He had a terrible May, but hopefully he can have the Month of June that is identical to the one he had in April, where he was exceptional on the mound.

[dagger]

Not enough can be said about how solid Fluharty, Little, and Rodriguez have been out of the bullpen. As much as I rip the clowns in the front office, they deserve praise for acquiring all three guys. With injuries to key guys like Garcia and Sandlin, all three of them have stepped up time after time. Nice to see Hoffman strike out three batters also in the 9th and get the Save. He had a terrible May, but hopefully he can have the Month of June that is identical to the one he had in April, where he was exceptional on the mound.

Little is a bit of a coin flip the last week or so. I might put Little into lower leverage and give Fluharty a shot at the eighth inning until Garcia is back. But yes, the low and mid leverage guys have helped support high leverage.

Also worth noting that as of today, the three teams in AL wildcard slots all have 34-29 records.

[Mehar]

Not enough can be said about how solid Fluharty, Little, and Rodriguez have been out of the bullpen. As much as I rip the clowns in the front office, they deserve praise for acquiring all three guys. With injuries to key guys like Garcia and Sandlin, all three of them have stepped up time after time. Nice to see Hoffman strike out three batters also in the 9th and get the Save. He had a terrible May, but hopefully he can have the Month of June that is identical to the one he had in April, where he was exceptional on the mound.

Little is a bit of a coin flip the last week or so. I might put Little into lower leverage and give Fluharty a shot at the eighth inning until Garcia is back. But yes, the low and mid leverage guys have helped support high leverage.

Also worth noting that as of today, the three teams in AL wildcard slots all have 34-29 records.

Little did not allow a Run in the month of May. One or two not exceptional outings does not take away what he has done all year, along with Fluharty and Rodriguez. I also like the idea of Fluharty in the 8th for now.

[Randle McMurphy]

Little has the highest whiff rate in baseball, he’s probably their best RP this year.

[Mehar]

Clase again in the lineup (5th time in the past 7 days) despite being 1 for his last 14 and not looking good at the plate. Why not have Kirk as DH and Springer in CF for a change, and why even call up Roden from Buffalo if he will be stapled to the bench and not see any game action?

[JN]

Twins and Gausman is never a good fit. Twins just lay off everything. As I type this broadcasters saying the same.

[duppyy]

Hiney-man!

[Parataxis]

Is there a better backup catcher in the league right now than Tyler Heineman?

[Randle McMurphy]

Clase again in the lineup (5th time in the past 7 days) despite being 1 for his last 14 and not looking good at the plate. Why not have Kirk as DH and Springer in CF for a change, and why even call up Roden from Buffalo if he will be stapled to the bench and not see any game action?

Springer is really poor defensively these days. I'd play Straw or try Roden over Clase right now though.

[JN]

Clase again in the lineup (5th time in the past 7 days) despite being 1 for his last 14 and not looking good at the plate. Why not have Kirk as DH and Springer in CF for a change, and why even call up Roden from Buffalo if he will be stapled to the bench and not see any game action?

Springer is really poor defensively these days. I'd play Straw or try Roden over Clase right now though.

Was Lukes that bad in Center Field?

The solution for me today would have been put Lukes in CF, and have Roden playing instead of Clase.
Keep Springer at DH, and Kirk needed a full rest day either Saturday or Sunday.

[Lateral Quicks]

Tyler Heineman 1 bWAR, 172 OPS+ entering today's game in 55 PAs.

[Lateral Quicks]

Is there a better backup catcher in the league right now than Tyler Heineman?

FTFY

[JN]

So Bowden Francis going tomorrow.
Need to win this series today.

I'd like to see the Jays do a trade for a 5th starter ASAP. Someone like Adrian Houser or Martin Perez from the White Sox for a fringe prospect or two. Not particularly good pitcher, but someone you can spot there who will be better than 2025 Bowden Francis and better than what you find on the scrap heap like Urena. Gives you another month to see what exactly you have here, and then you can go for a better starter at the deadline if we are indeed legit.

But the Francis era, at least temporarily, should have ended with the last start on Tuesday.

[Randle McMurphy]

Clase again in the lineup (5th time in the past 7 days) despite being 1 for his last 14 and not looking good at the plate. Why not have Kirk as DH and Springer in CF for a change, and why even call up Roden from Buffalo if he will be stapled to the bench and not see any game action?

Springer is really poor defensively these days. I'd play Straw or try Roden over Clase right now though.

Was Lukes that bad in Center Field?

The solution for me today would have been put Lukes in CF, and have Roden playing instead of Clase.
Keep Springer at DH, and Kirk needed a full rest day either Saturday or Sunday.

Lukes is fine in CF so far in a small sample. The Clase thing is getting weird though, another bad AB there with RISP.

[JN]

It's been at least a few times this season where Gausman totally falls apart on the mound, and the source of frustration is umpire calls which in the whole scope of MLB strike calls probably aren't even that bad. Strange thing to say for a vet, but he needs to work on his composure.