TORONTO — Daulton Varsho came to the plate Sunday with the bases loaded three times.
In the first inning, the centre fielder skied a pop-up to short and the Toronto Blue Jays ultimately failed to score in the inning. The second time, however, Varsho took full advantage when he got a pitch to hit and sent the ball over the right-field wall for his second grand slam of the season and team-leading 11th home run. In the eighth, with the bases loaded, Varsho struck out.
Dad said it was time to do some yard work.
We're having a GRAND time doing so. pic.twitter.com/2QYJ57duFT
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 16, 2024
Varsho’s homer was part of a five-run fifth inning that proved pivotal in what eventually became a close 7-6 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday at the Rogers Centre.
“They’re a really good ball club, they’re crafty,” Varsho said. “They single you to death, really. They do a really good job of baserunning. Their pitching is outstanding. That bullpen is really, really good and they’ve done a really good job over there of being able to prepare every day and try to win.”
Advertisement
The victory gave the Blue Jays a series win over the AL Central leaders and lifted their record to 35-36. Once again, Toronto will have the opportunity to climb back to .500 for the first time since late April on Monday when they begin a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox.
Yimi García exits in the ninth
The Blue Jays pulled out the win on Father’s Day, but they didn’t get out of the ninth inning unscathed.
After Yimi García gave up a two-run home run to Cleveland shortstop Brayan Rocchio, the right-handed reliever left the game with what the team was calling right elbow soreness.
Only minutes after the game, Blue Jays manager John Schneider didn’t have much additional information, beyond saying that the soreness just popped up Sunday and the club hopes to have more information Monday.
The timing of Garcia’s injury is far from ideal for the Blue Jays. They are already without closer Jordan Romano, who is on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation. Romano has progressed to the point of throwing from 90 feet, but his return to the bullpen is not imminent.
In Romano’s absence, García has filled in as closer as he puts together a career season. But if Toronto’s bullpen is without both Romano and García, they would be without two of their best late-inning options. That’s tough for any bullpen to handle, but especially so for one that still ranks in the bottom five of the majors in ERA, and with tough series against the Red Sox, Guardians and New York Yankees approaching.
The Buffalo Boys
As their offensive production has continued to reside near the bottom of the majors, the Blue Jays have been steadily ushering in a youth movement. In the last 10 days, the club has called up two of its better-performing prospects in Spencer Horwitz and Addison Barger, while moving on from the established Cavan Biggio, who they traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers after he was DFA’d, and Daniel Vogelbach, who was DFA’d last Friday.
Advertisement
Since he was called up June 7, Horwitz is hitting .333 with a .789 OPS, while seamlessly sliding into the lineup’s leadoff position. Meanwhile, Barger recorded his first MLB career RBI on Saturday and then had a two-hit day in Sunday’s win. Barger made his MLB debut earlier this season, but he struggled in his first stint with the Blue Jays, going 1-for-18 with six strikeouts.
After the game on Saturday, Barger spoke about feeling more comfortable during his second stint because he knows what to expect. He also said he’s taking it easier on himself and not, “thinking that everything has to happen now (or) I have to do everything right all the time. Just being easier on myself.”
Barger and Horwitz are following in the footsteps of two other Buffalo boys, Ernie Clement, who hit a two-run homer Sunday, and Davis Schneider, who came up from Triple A last season and offered an offensive spark before becoming more established pieces of the lineup this year.
“Schneider’s done that all year and Ernie’s quietly has done his thing, too,” John Schneider said. “Barger is a little more comfortable. I think you’re seeing a more normal version of himself. And Spence controls the zone and he knows how to hit. We’re not asking them to be anything that they’re not, it’s still pieces to the puzzle with guys that we do have here. But today was a really good example of what they can do.”
The manager left the door open for Horwitz and Barger to play themselves into the lineup more frequently, even if it comes at the expense of some of the team’s more experienced veterans’ playing time, including George Springer, Justin Turner and Kevin Kiermaier.
“We knew that when they both came up here, there’s going to be some off days for some guys to start, at least, but I think if everyone’s performing well, it’s nice to get guys a little bit of a blow, too,” the manager said. “Hopefully they can keep it rolling.”
Advertisement
Decision on Yariel Rodríguez looms
Since he recovered from thoracic spine inflammation, Yariel Rodríguez has been making regular rehab appearances with Triple-A Buffalo until the Blue Jays are ready to call him up again.
Last week, Rodríguez struck out 10 over four innings, but the Blue Jays wanted to see him start in Buffalo once more so he could get his pitch count up to about 80. So, the Cuban right-hander started for the Bisons on Sunday, and while he gave up two runs on three hits, he also had seven strikeouts and three walks over his three innings of work. Crucially, he threw 79 pitches.
Assuming Rodríguez reports that he feels good physically following the start, he should be in a position to rejoin the Blue Jays. The most logical spot is for Rodríguez to slide back into the rotation and take the spot of Alek Manoah, who is scheduled to have his elbow surgery Monday.
Since Manoah went down with the season-ending injury, the Blue Jays’ lack of starting depth has been exposed and they’ve had to cobble together a pitching plan for every fifth start by using either bullpen days or Bowden Francis as the starter. While Saturday’s bullpen day worked out swimmingly, relying on that strategy long-term is risky, especially considering the struggles of the bullpen.
The impression is that Rodríguez will rejoin the Blue Jays’ rotation and the club will return to a traditional five-man rotation the next time the turn comes up Friday against the Guardians. Meanwhile, Francis can continue to serve as the bullpen’s long-man and offer bulk innings behind Rodríguez as the Blue Jays continue to be mindful of his innings load this season.
(Photo of Daulton Varsho and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: Jon Blacker / MLB Photos via Getty Images)