DETROIT – It feels a little like the Blue Jays got away with one.
Ultimately, it’s wins and losses that count most, so give them credit, especially on the pitching side. Spencer Miles and the Toronto bullpen limited the Tigers to just one run over ten innings Saturday.
Still, the Blue Jays’ 2-1 win at Comerica Park didn’t exactly feature the offensive outburst they’ve been hoping for.
This time, they got just enough. Yohendrick Piñango hit his first big-league home run to tie the game in the seventh and Daulton Varsho singled home the winning run in extras as the Blue Jays improved to 20-25 on the season.
"That's the hardest thing, to hit a homer, especially in a close game like this,” Piñango said afterwards through interpreter Hector Lebron. “I knew it was very important for the team, so yeah: it was great."
At the plate, Guerrero Jr. greeted his younger teammate with a smile.
“Congratulations,” he told him. “One of many.”
Yet Guerrero Jr. was unable to build on Piñango’s success Saturday. In four trips to the plate, he grounded into a double play, popped up to first and grounded out to short twice, extending his hitless streak to 22 at-bats.
“Obviously I don’t feel okay right now,” he said through Lebron. “I’m not feeling right and you guys can tell that. I’ve been working very hard. I want to keep battling, keep working. I’ll be ready.”
“I’m just looking to hit one ball very hard and it will stay in my head and my mind,” he added. “I know things are going to change.”
On defence, Guerrero Jr. made a throwing error, allowing Zach McKinstry to reach in the seventh. Asked which teammates are supporting him during this difficult stretch, he said all of them.
“But when it's time to compete at the plate, I'm on my own so I've got to find a way myself to get through this,” he said.
"He's a humble guy," Piñango said. “And man, since I got here he’s welcomed me with the open arms.”
Of course Guerrero Jr.’s not the only one struggling. Leadoff hitter George Springer went hitless in four trips to the plate, never hitting a ball out of the infield. His season OPS sits at .566, lower than his 2025 slugging percentage of .588.
“I have total trust that the guys that need to get going will get going,” said manager John Schneider.
And just one of the Blue Jays’ No. 6 through 9 hitters reached base Saturday as they combined for only five hits as a team. The at-bats of Lenyn Sosa are particularly quick right now, as the free swinging second baseman never seems to see a pitch he doesn’t like – a tendency opposing pitchers seem ready to exploit.
The offensive struggles are tied to injuries, of course. This isn’t the lineup the Blue Jays thought they’d be starting when the season began. But the regulars who remain in the lineup are performing poorly and despite Piñango’s best efforts the second wave of players hasn’t come close to making up the difference.
“You need some people to kind of stabilize you a little until guys start rolling,” Schneider said.
Without those contributions, the Blue Jays rank last in the AL in on-base percentage a year after leading the league in that category.
As for the pitching, the bullpen game started with a strong effort from Mason Fluharty, who struck out three on his way to 1.1 scoreless innings. From there, the Blue Jays handed the ball over to Miles, the Rule 5 pick who impressed last weekend with a three-inning effort against the Angels.
Pitching on five days' rest, Miles held his own again, providing 3.2 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and two walks. His curveball was especially effective as he lowered his season ERA to 2.55 and built up to 56 pitches, a season high.
“Fastball command was just okay today,” Miles said. “That's something I want to hone in on. But other than that the curveball was working and so I was just ripping it, honestly.”
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With José Berríos set for surgery and Max Scherzer and Shane Bieber still on the injured list there’s an opening in the rotation for the Blue Jays. Whether Miles continues to stretch out or not, he’s clearly capable of being an important part of this pitching staff at a time that some more established arms are sidelined.
That in itself is a significant development for the Blue Jays.
"Spence continues to impress me," Schneider said. "He's handling every situation really well and his stuff is legit. And I think he held his stuff throughout his outing and (got) a couple big strikeouts when he needed it. So nothing but rave reviews for me."
Looking forward, the manager said the Blue Jays intend to "be creative" with their pitching staff, but that likely includes continued bulk innings from Miles with the possibility of ramping up his workload further.
On Sunday, it’ll be Kevin Gausman opposite Jack Flaherty as the Blue Jays look to take the series before heading to New York. Priority one for the finale: win again and build some momentum. Priority two: start hitting.
