'We know that we can blow a team out ... it's those other games that we've got to tighten up.' The Blue Jays pick up at 45-42 in large part because they haven’t played well enough in close games. That's something they're looking to change. (shidavidi)
slugger rough up his pitchers for five home runs and a .913 OPS in 13 meetings so far this season.
The Blue Jays resume play out of the break 6.5 games back of Cash’s wild-card leading Rays and 4.5 games behind the Oakland Athletics, who currently hold the second spot. They are eight games back of the American League East leading Boston Red Sox, but have a chance to upend the standings with 10 games against them in the next three weeks.
That’s why second baseman Marcus Semien immediately replied “close games,” when asked what area the Blue Jays most needed to improve over the season’s final 2½ months. Even if they converted only half of those games, the standings would look completely different, with the recent additions of Adam Cimber and Trevor Richards to the bullpen designed to patch up a critical deficiency.
No doubt, as Walker’s 2.50 ERA in 90 innings over 16 starts has helped the Mets build a 3.5-game lead atop the National League East. He’s struck out 89 batters against a WHIP of 1.033 while allowing only six homers. Instead, the right-hander ended up accepting the $18.9-million qualifying offer extended by the San Francisco Giants, betting on himself to deliver a big season and then return to the free-agent market unencumbered. Good move, as he’s delivered a 1.73 ERA in 114.2 innings across 18 starts, striking out 133 batters with a microscopic WHIP of 0.820.
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