Springerless Blue Jays Avoid Seattle Sweep
They’ve done it before.
The Toronto Blue Jays played almost half their season without George Springer, and on Sunday they did it again.
In Toronto’s first 70 games — prior to Springer’s re-return in late June — the Blue Jays posted a 35-35 record. The pre-Springer offense had the third-most runs in the American League and earned a +43 run differential. But Springer took them to the next level. Without the back-to-back American League Player of the Week, the Blue Jays returned to their early-season lineup. And at least for one game, they survived.
In the second inning, Randal Grichuk mimicked his right fielder. Two batters after Teoscar Hernández lurched forward and admired a towering homer into the left-field bleachers, Grichuk stared out to the same T-Mobile Park seats and watched a similarly well-struck ball drop over the wall.
Without Springer, Toronto's three outfielders notched a home run each, slapping six hits, driving in four of Toronto’s eight runs, and playing nearly perfect defense behind starter Steven Matz. After two months of over .800 OPS to begin the season, Grichuk was the worst qualified hitter on the Blue Jays since June 1st (.646 OPS). But with centerfield open, and opportunities for Toronto's many OF options, Grichuk re-finding his form could damper a brief Springer loss.
"That's the beautiful thing about baseball," manager Charlie Montoyo said. "You never know. You lose one of your best hitters and all of a sudden you score this many runs. That's the kind of team we have, we can pick someone else if they're not in the lineup and that's what we did today."
Strike it, @RGrich15 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NrAR0D313x
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 15, 2021
With a familiar lineup of Marcus Semien in the leadoff spot, Bo Bichette second, Vlad Guerrero Jr. hitting third, and Hernandez cleaning up, the Toronto bats tallied the second-most runs of their west coast road trip — only the second time they’ve broken four runs in the last seven games.
“It’s not that hard when you have guys on base often like we do," Hernandez said after the game."
Toronto's eight runs were enough for Matz, who fought command early but earned the win. Without the pressure of a rotation battle, with Ross Stripling now on the 10-day IL with an oblique strain, Matz overcame two first-inning wild pitches and a run-scoring past ball. Making an adjustment "on the fly," to slide over on the rubber after consistently missing glove side, the lefty settled to post 5 IP, 0 ER, earning his 10th win of the season.
The Blue Jays avoided the brooms without their 150-million-dollar free agent, but 2021 has proven Springer’s worth. With Springer in the lineup, the Blue Jays are 29-20 (a 95-win pace), and his .972 OPS is second only to Guerrero.
Springer’s mild ankle sprain isn’t expected to hold him out long — with "good improvement" today, according to Montoyo. But riding the playoff odds rollercoaster on Toronto’s road trip, the Blue Jays can’t afford to simply tread water until their centerfielder is back. They must win games, with or without Springer, and on Sunday they managed.
Read more:
'All hands on deck': Jays bullpen takes control after Stripling injury
Mitch Bannon is a baseball reporter for Sports Illustrated covering the Toronto Blue Jays and their minor league affiliates.Twitter: @MitchBannon