TORONTO – In 34 days, the Toronto Blue Jays have overcome an eight-game deficit to roar right into a tie for the highest spot within the American League East.
Of their ascension to catch the Latest York Yankees, the Blue Jays (48-38) have taken the primary three outings of a four-game set against the Bronx Bombers (48-38), including a wild 11-9 win on Wednesday.
“It feels great, however the goal is to maintain winning,” said Toronto’s 26-year-old slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr., named the AL’s starting first baseman for his fifth trip to the All-Star Game.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider added, “I am going back to the way in which that we’ve done it, with guys being out, other guys contributing, and just putting a concentrate on attempting to win every series. We want to proceed to try this.”
The Blue Jays began turning around their season in early May, going 32-18 since May 8 for a .640 win percentage. Only the Houston Astros have performed at a greater clip with a .680 win percentage in the identical stretch.
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Since falling eight games behind the Yankees on May 28, Toronto has gone 21-10 in its run to the highest for the primary time in Schneider’s time on the helm.
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“I didn’t consider that,” Schneider said. “But we’ve got one other game (Thursday). That’s principally it.”
Chris Bassitt (7-4) will start for Toronto within the series finale, while Clarke Schmidt (4-4) will pitch for the visitors. With the Blue Jays bullpen taxed from the primary three games on this series, Bassitt will must be at his best.
“Yeah, Chris is hydrating immediately. He’ll be good for about 140 (pitches),” Schneider joked.
The house side was ahead 7-0 after the primary and 8-0 after three innings, only to see the Yankees tie the sport 9-9 on a two-run monster shot from Aaron Judge off reliever Yimi Garcia within the eighth inning.
Garcia was making his first appearance after being out with a right shoulder injury since May 22.
Judge smacked his thirty first homer, a 440-foot shot into the second deck in left field. After getting on base five times with three walks and two hits on Tuesday, he delivered a single, double, homer and an intentional walk in five plate appearances before 30,985 at Rogers Centre on Wednesday.
With a runner on and one out, did Schneider consider issuing one other intentional walk with Cody Bellinger hitting behind Judge.
“That’s why I’ll go to bed at three o’clock as a substitute of two o’clock,” Schneider said. “I got loads of respect for him.
“You don’t need to bring the go-ahead run as much as the plate … It’s not an ideal science. I’ve (intentially walked Judge) quite a bit to him this 12 months and the last couple of years, and I’ll proceed to do it if I even have to.
“But at the identical time, I believe walking a man to bring the go-ahead run to the plate, who’s had a hell of an enormous league profession, Bellinger, I’d be sleeping here tonight if that happened.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press