Blue Jays take another step toward selling with bonkers loss to Tigers
The Detroit Tigers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays with a three-run walk-off home run off of Jordan Romano in a grueling game that ended in a 14-11 loss. As a result, the Tigers won three of the four games in the series, reducing the Blue Jays to 23-29 overall. The Blue Jays missed chances to leave Detroit with a split in a back-and-forth game.
In a wild one, Matt Vierling walks it off for the Tigers (+115 ML) 🔥 bhbz0dbclc.pic.x.com
The Blue Jays had a hard start to the game because Yusei Kikuchi did not pitch well. The Tigers led 4-0 after RBI hits by Javier Baez and Andy Ibanez in the second inning. In the third inning, Spencer Torkelson launched a home run to increase the lead to 5-0. The Tigers led 5-3 after a Justin Turner RBI groundout in the fifth inning and a home run by Cavan Biggio in the third for the Blue Jays.
It appeared like the Blue Jays would not have anything to offer the Tigers in this game after Carson Kelly smacked a three-run home run off of Trevor Richards in the fifth inning, making the score 8-3 Detroit. But Vierling’s first of two home runs that day made it 9-5 in the bottom of the sixth after Toronto answered with two of their own to make it 8-5.
In the seventh inning, a home run by Isiah Kiner-Falefa made it 9-6, and in the eighth, Toronto appeared to have pulled off a victory. After Daulton Varsho’s three-run home run gave the Blue Jays an 11-9 lead, Bo Bichette hit a two-run single to tie the score at one. Yimi Garcia gave up a two-run single to Mark Canha to tie the game at eleven in the bottom of the eighth, being unable to hold the Tigers.
The final nail in the coffin would be Vierling’s home run off of Romano in the ninth inning. The Blue Jays’ season-long slide to 23-29, which puts them 13 games out of first place in the American League East and 5.5 games away of a postseason berth, feeds further speculation that Toronto may be forced to sell before the deadline.
Who could the Blue Jays use as trade chips if they are sellers?
Names like Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stand out as guys the Blue Jays could end up moving and could fetch large sums at the deadline. This would, however, require a complete rebuild for Toronto, and it’s unclear whether the front office or ownership would be amenable to it.
Bo Bichette is bound by a deal that expires in 2026, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is under contract through 2025 and will then be a free agent. A sizable haul would be necessary for both players.
Jordan Romano and other players might also be added to the block. What happens to the Blue Jays in the long run could be decided in the next month or so.