Must. Win.
Fitzy Mo Peña had it right: welp.
The wheels keep falling off this team. Then they bounce back. And then somehow go back to disappointing.
The Toronto Blue Jays won 91 games in 2021 and finished 4th in the AL East.
In 2022 and 2023 they won 92 and 89 games, respectively, and played in the Wild Card series each time. Each time they were swept out my losing the first two of a potential three games.
Things looked bright.
They were all-in on Shohei Ohtani.
Shohei Ohtani is NOT in Toronto.
Ohtani is NOT on a flight to Toronto.
Ohtani is at home in Southern California.— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 8, 2023
Cut to 2024 and the Jays are in last place at 63-68.
They did not sign Ohtani.
Vlad Jr. had a bad first half before turning it on to round back into near 2021 form.
Heading into the season this scheduled four (now five with the resumed game) series probably looked tasty to the Jays. Boston was supposed to be a bottom feeder while the birds feasted on bad teams and crossed the threshold of the Wild Card to get into a Division or maybe Championship series. Instead they sold at the deadline and head into 2025 wondering if they flip Vlad and Bo Bichette for another teardown.
For the Red Sox, though, these are games to win. The pitching has issues. The bats comes and go. But Boston is the clearly better team here. After a long stretch against legitimately good teams the soft part of the second half is upon us. It’s time to pile up the Ws or pack it up until 2025. Even if the Sox ultimately miss the postseason it can be a race. They can be in it.
Probable Starters
8/26 (1): Kutter Crawford is still in the game, technically, but having pitched two days ago will likely be replaced when play resumes. Yariel Rodríguez last pitched on 8/21 but he’s scheduled to pitch tomorrow.
8/26 (2): José Berríos (3.79 ERA / 4.15 FIP) vs Nick Pivetta (4.70 ERA / 4.41 FIP)
8/27: Yariel Rodríguez (4.40 ERA / 4.42 FIP) vs Cooper Criswell (4.41 ERA / 3.92 FIP)
8/28: Chris Bassitt (4.41 ERA / 4.08 FIP) vs Brayan Bello (4.95 ERA / 4.56 FIP)
8/29: Bowden Francis (4.02 ERA / 4.49 FIP) coming off a no-hit bid vs TBD.
Game Times and Where to Follow
8/26 (1) 2:10 PM ET on WEEI and NESN
8/26 (2) 7:10 PM ET on WEEI and NESN. However there is a chance of rain this afternoon so it’s possible the first game runs long. Truly a wild day.
8/27: 7:10 PM ET on WEEI and NESN.
8/28: 7:10 PM ET on WEEI and NESN.
8/29: 7:10 PM ET on WEEI and NESN.