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Fox Sports
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Are the Blue Jays the Real Deal? Looking At the Reasons Behind Toronto's Surge
When Joey Loperfido connected on a 93-mph fastball in the fifth inning on Monday, there was a feeling of inevitability behind it. No matter that, this was just his second game of the season, after being called up on Sunday to help the major-league roster. The way that things have been going for the Blue Jays, anyone who puts on a royal blue uniform right now will reap the benefits of their winning formula. Loperfido's soaring fly ball to right field was his first home run of the year, breaking a tie with the White Sox and setting in motion a barrage of runs from Toronto's blistering-hot lineup. The Jays scored six more times against Chicago, which was more than enough run support for right-hander Jose Berrios, who recorded his 12th quality start of the season. And so it went for the Blue Jays as they stuck to their fruitful approach: overwhelm the opponent, cash in when there are runners on base, then let the pitching staff do its thing. Their offensive philosophy — driven by new hitting coach David Popkins — might sound simple, but it flourishes when hitters are comfortable being themselves. The coaching staff is maximizing the offense's potential by being up front with players about their roles in the lineup. The No. 9 hitter is just as important as the leadoff man, and the hitters in the middle of the pack have to keep the line moving. Trusting the approach has led to a brand of Blue Jays baseball that we haven't seen since 2015. The Blue Jays' 8-4 victory over the White Sox on Monday marked their ninth consecutive win, their longest streak in 10 years before they extended to 10 on Tursday. They are the only Major League Baseball team with seven or more wins and fewer than two losses in that span, scoring eight or more runs four times during their nine-game win streak. They're averaging 6.67 runs per game and have crushed 16 home runs, both of which are the second-most in the major leagues since June 29. Throughout their winning streak, the lineup's .378 batting average with runners in scoring position is the second-best in baseball. They're capitalizing on their opportunities and hammering the starting pitcher — especially his second and third time through the order, if he even gets there. After the first time through the lineup, the Jays have scored 21 runs (tied for first), have 36 hits (most) and 15 extra base hits (tied for first) throughout their win streak. There is carefully-constructed depth throughout the lineup that makes navigating it exhausting for opposing pitching staffs, and as everyone else considers whether their formula is sustainable, the club's confidence is only climbing to new levels. All they have to do to remind themselves that their hard work is paying off is peek at the standings. They captured first place after a four-game sweep of the New York Yankees to begin the month, and as much as their AL East rivals want to believe that dominance won't last, the Blue Jays have only persisted. Toronto has stretched that lead to 3.5 games entering Tuesday, suggesting it won't be as easy as New York expects to reclaim the division lead. The first-place Blue Jays are the hottest team in baseball, but they weren't expected to be this good. There was a mix of optimism and caution as Blue Jays players packed their bags for spring training back in February. The front office gave the fan base a modicum of hope this winter, acquiring power hitter Anthony Santander and future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer. They added much-needed bullpen depth, which was a weakness last season. But could the Jays be depended upon to turn it around? Sure, they have a strong core that features Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and George Springer, but we had seen that offense underproduce and struggle with consistency too many times to really count on a big year from them. Coming off a 74-win season and a last-place finish, FanGraphs gave the Blue Jays a 43% chance of making the playoffs before the season began. Now? The Jays have an 89.6% chance of making the playoffs and a 45.7% percent chance of winning the division, per FanGraphs. While household names like Guerrero and Springer have been key, it's their secondary offense that deserves credit for bewildering opposing pitchers and forcing them to exit their outings earlier than they'd anticipated. Third baseman and right fielder Addison Barger is one of seven major-league players to have hit four or more home runs since June 29. And in that span, he's just one of two players to have hit four homers and collect at least one steal, joining Springer. Barger's 70.8% hard-hit rate is tied for third-best in the majors during the team's win streak. But his success at the plate goes back even farther than Toronto's nine most recent wins. It took about a month for the 25-year-old to find his rhythm, but Barger has been a top 10 WAR leader in MLB since May 8. Known as Bam-Bam around the Rogers Centre, Barger is quickly becoming a fan favorite following his 2024 major-league debut. Beyond his dramatic turnaround, the Blue Jays offense is getting help from guys like catcher Alejandro Kirk and infielder Ernie Clement. Kirk, who signed a $58-million, five-year contract extension during the spring, is returning to the All-Star Game for the second time in his career. He was an obvious pick for rebounding at the plate after two consecutive down years. Through 76 games, Kirk is slashing .300/.358/.410 with 41 RBIs and a career-best 9.9% strikeout rate. The 26-year-old, who has talked about finally knowing who he is as a hitter this season, seems to be one of the best recipients of Popkins' offensive philosophy. Clement, too, is enjoying a career year — and not just at the plate. The Blue Jays represent the best defensive team in baseball, and it's not particularly close. Toronto has amassed 34 defensive WAR, with the Milwaukee Brewers in second with 20.9 dWAR. Much of their improved defense is due to Kirk, who is renowned for his exceptional framing behind the plate. But guys like Clement, Andres Gimenez, Miles Straw, Alan Roden, and Daulton Varsho (before he got injured) are major contributors with their sharp gloves, helping to limit damage behind their pitchers. Flashing the leather is nothing new for the Jays — they finished the 2024 season with the best defense in MLB, too — but when that type of attention to detail is combined with consistency in the lineup and solid pitching performances, the roster from top to bottom is dangerous. The Blue Jays are a living, breathing example of how to reject early-season expectations and harness an organizational strategy that plays to every individual's strength. Even when Guerrero takes a seven-day break from being exceptional at the plate, and given that Santander and Varsho have been injured since the end of May, and right-hander Alek Manoah has yet to throw a pitch this season, the Jays are calling the next man up and thriving all the same. If they're this good now, how much better will they be at full strength? How much more improved will they be after the trade deadline? Those are some seriously scary thoughts for opposing teams, who have officially been put on notice. The Blue Jays aren't messing around this time. If they can stave off the Yankees and hold onto the division lead, they're knocking on the door of their first playoff appearance past the wild-card round since 2016. That special, giddy feeling is back, so go ahead and believe in them. It's a wonderful and exciting time to be a Jays fan. Deesha Thosar covers Major League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar. recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Canada Standard
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Canada Standard
White Sox hope to put an end to Blue Jays' winning streak
(Photo credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images) A common refrain during the Toronto Blue Jays' best winning streak in a decade has been 'it's a different guy every night.' With Toronto's tear at nine games entering Tuesday's visit to the Chicago White Sox, someone theoretically must contribute a repeat heroic performance to keep the streak alive. Toronto will seek to secure its fifth straight series victory after earning an 8-4 win in the series opener Monday. Joey Loperfido, Nathan Lukes and Addison Barger homered while Bo Bichette and Loperfido delivered two hits apiece. Toronto navigated a late White Sox rally to hold on. The Blue Jays are on their first nine-game winning streak since the 2015 club won 12 straight. Monday marked the home debut of White Sox rookie shortstop Colson Montgomery, who walked and scored a run. Leadoff man Mike Tauchman delivered three hits, including a two-run single. 'We're getting some good at-bats and good swings and hopefully we can keep putting those together tomorrow,' Chicago manager Will Venable said. Toronto has clicked since losing two of three to the visiting White Sox from June 20-22. The Blue Jays have won 12 of 14 while benefiting from solid pitching and an opportunistic attack. Shortly after earning plaudits as American League Player of the Week, Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer went 0-for-5 Monday. But the rest of the lineup picked him up as Toronto won again. This time, it was Loperfido who excelled in his second game since being recalled from Triple-A Buffalo. '(Toronto's) games are on ... in our clubhouse down there. Everybody's pulling for everybody,' Loperfido said. 'There have been some Bisons that have come up here and contributed all season long. ... I think it speaks to the culture of the organization. 'Guys are rooting for each other and pulling for each other because they know how hard it is to do it up here.' Veteran right-hander Aaron Civale will start for the White Sox as he tries for his first victory since joining Chicago in mid-June. Civale (1-5, 4.60 ERA) is 0-3 with a 4.29 ERA in four starts with the White Sox. He is coming off Thursday's road loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, when he yielded five runs, two earned, and five hits in five innings. Civale lost to the host Blue Jays on June 21, allowing five runs and nine hits in a season-high seven innings. Civale issued just one walk for the fourth time this season but proved susceptible to the long ball, as Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. both reached him for solo home runs. Toronto righty Chris Bassitt took a no-decision against the White Sox one day later, allowing one run and three hits in six innings with one walk and seven strikeouts. Bassitt will start for the Blue Jays on Tuesday. In his last start, Bassitt (8-4, 4.32) pitched 5 2/3 innings of three-run, eight-hit ball to defeat the New York Yankees, picking up his first win since June 10. He walked three and struck out nine, one shy of his season high. Bassitt has pitched effectively versus the White Sox in his career, going 5-2 with a 2.78 ERA in 10 starts. Civale is 2-4 with a 5.40 ERA in six starts against Toronto. --Field Level Media
Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
White Sox hope to put an end to Blue Jays' winning streak
A common refrain during the Toronto Blue Jays' best winning streak in a decade has been "it's a different guy every night." White Sox hope to put an end to Blue Jays' winning streak With Toronto's tear at nine games entering Tuesday's visit to the Chicago White Sox, someone theoretically must contribute a repeat heroic performance to keep the streak alive. Toronto will seek to secure its fifth straight series victory after earning an 8-4 win in the series opener Monday. Joey Loperfido, Nathan Lukes and Addison Barger homered while Bo Bichette and Loperfido delivered two hits apiece. Toronto navigated a late White Sox rally to hold on. The Blue Jays are on their first nine-game winning streak since the 2015 club won 12 straight. Monday marked the home debut of White Sox rookie shortstop Colson Montgomery, who walked and scored a run. Leadoff man Mike Tauchman delivered three hits, including a two-run single. "We're getting some good at-bats and good swings and hopefully we can keep putting those together tomorrow," Chicago manager Will Venable said. Toronto has clicked since losing two of three to the visiting White Sox from June 20-22. The Blue Jays have won 12 of 14 while benefiting from solid pitching and an opportunistic attack. Shortly after earning plaudits as American League Player of the Week, Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer went 0-for-5 Monday. But the rest of the lineup picked him up as Toronto won again. This time, it was Loperfido who excelled in his second game since being recalled from Triple-A Buffalo. " games are on ... in our clubhouse down there. Everybody's pulling for everybody," Loperfido said. "There have been some Bisons that have come up here and contributed all season long. ... I think it speaks to the culture of the organization. "Guys are rooting for each other and pulling for each other because they know how hard it is to do it up here." Veteran right-hander Aaron Civale will start for the White Sox as he tries for his first victory since joining Chicago in mid-June. Civale is 0-3 with a 4.29 ERA in four starts with the White Sox. He is coming off Thursday's road loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, when he yielded five runs, two earned, and five hits in five innings. Civale lost to the host Blue Jays on June 21, allowing five runs and nine hits in a season-high seven innings. Civale issued just one walk for the fourth time this season but proved susceptible to the long ball, as Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. both reached him for solo home runs. Toronto righty Chris Bassitt took a no-decision against the White Sox one day later, allowing one run and three hits in six innings with one walk and seven strikeouts. Bassitt will start for the Blue Jays on Tuesday. In his last start, Bassitt pitched 5 2/3 innings of three-run, eight-hit ball to defeat the New York Yankees, picking up his first win since June 10. He walked three and struck out nine, one shy of his season high. Bassitt has pitched effectively versus the White Sox in his career, going 5-2 with a 2.78 ERA in 10 starts. Civale is 2-4 with a 5.40 ERA in six starts against Toronto. Field Level Media This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Loperfido homers as the Blue Jays beat the White Sox 8-4 for their 9th consecutive win
CHICAGO — Joey Loperfido homered and drove in three runs, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Chicago White Sox 8-4 on Monday night for their ninth consecutive win. Loperfido homers as the Blue Jays beat the White Sox 8-4 for their 9th consecutive win Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes also connected as AL East-leading Toronto improved to 27-10 in its last 37 games. Bo Bichette had two hits and All-Star slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walked three times. At 53-38, the Blue Jays matched the franchise record for most victories before the All-Star break. It's the longest win streak for the team since an 11-game run in August 2015. José Berríos pitched six innings of one-run ball, bouncing back nicely after he struggled in a no-decision against the New York Yankees on Wednesday. The right-hander improved to 16-6 with a 2.96 ERA in 27 career starts against Chicago. Mike Tauchman had three hits and two RBIs for the last-place White Sox, who won two of three at Toronto last month. Colson Montgomery, one of the team's top prospects, went 0 for 3 with a walk in his home debut. The Blue Jays opened an 8-1 lead when they scored five times in the sixth. Barger hit a two-run drive off Sean Burke for his 12th homer, and Loperfido chopped a two-run single over a drawn-in infield. Burke was charged with six runs and six hits in five-plus innings. The right-hander allowed two earned runs in 16 1/3 innings over his previous three outings. Loperfido and Lukes hit back-to-back homers in the fifth, giving Toronto a 3-1 lead. It was Loperfido's first homer of the season and No. 5 for his career. It was Chicago's eighth consecutive home loss against Toronto. Chris Bassitt starts for Toronto on Tuesday night, and fellow right-hander Aaron Civale pitches for Chicago. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Canada News.Net
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Canada News.Net
White Sox hope to put an end to Blue Jays' winning streak
(Photo credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images) A common refrain during the Toronto Blue Jays' best winning streak in a decade has been 'it's a different guy every night.' With Toronto's tear at nine games entering Tuesday's visit to the Chicago White Sox, someone theoretically must contribute a repeat heroic performance to keep the streak alive. Toronto will seek to secure its fifth straight series victory after earning an 8-4 win in the series opener Monday. Joey Loperfido, Nathan Lukes and Addison Barger homered while Bo Bichette and Loperfido delivered two hits apiece. Toronto navigated a late White Sox rally to hold on. The Blue Jays are on their first nine-game winning streak since the 2015 club won 12 straight. Monday marked the home debut of White Sox rookie shortstop Colson Montgomery, who walked and scored a run. Leadoff man Mike Tauchman delivered three hits, including a two-run single. 'We're getting some good at-bats and good swings and hopefully we can keep putting those together tomorrow,' Chicago manager Will Venable said. Toronto has clicked since losing two of three to the visiting White Sox from June 20-22. The Blue Jays have won 12 of 14 while benefiting from solid pitching and an opportunistic attack. Shortly after earning plaudits as American League Player of the Week, Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer went 0-for-5 Monday. But the rest of the lineup picked him up as Toronto won again. This time, it was Loperfido who excelled in his second game since being recalled from Triple-A Buffalo. '(Toronto's) games are on ... in our clubhouse down there. Everybody's pulling for everybody,' Loperfido said. 'There have been some Bisons that have come up here and contributed all season long. ... I think it speaks to the culture of the organization. 'Guys are rooting for each other and pulling for each other because they know how hard it is to do it up here.' Veteran right-hander Aaron Civale will start for the White Sox as he tries for his first victory since joining Chicago in mid-June. Civale (1-5, 4.60 ERA) is 0-3 with a 4.29 ERA in four starts with the White Sox. He is coming off Thursday's road loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, when he yielded five runs, two earned, and five hits in five innings. Civale lost to the host Blue Jays on June 21, allowing five runs and nine hits in a season-high seven innings. Civale issued just one walk for the fourth time this season but proved susceptible to the long ball, as Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. both reached him for solo home runs. Toronto righty Chris Bassitt took a no-decision against the White Sox one day later, allowing one run and three hits in six innings with one walk and seven strikeouts. Bassitt will start for the Blue Jays on Tuesday. In his last start, Bassitt (8-4, 4.32) pitched 5 2/3 innings of three-run, eight-hit ball to defeat the New York Yankees, picking up his first win since June 10. He walked three and struck out nine, one shy of his season high. Bassitt has pitched effectively versus the White Sox in his career, going 5-2 with a 2.78 ERA in 10 starts. Civale is 2-4 with a 5.40 ERA in six starts against Toronto.
