The Blue Jays lost a series to the hapless Athletics, failing to capitalize on chances around them.
Update: The Orioles did lose, so the Blue Jays remain one game back in the wild card with 16 games to play.
We tried to warn you on Tuesday. Despite being 30 games under .500 and playing without most of their projected starting lineup, the Athletics are no joke right now. They just took three-of-four from the Seattle Mariners over the weekend, and they played spoiler again this week, taking two-of-three from the Toronto Blue Jays in West Sacramento, Calif.
The 2-0 loss on Wednesday dropped the Blue Jays back under .500 at 73-74, and for the moment, has them at 1.5 games back of the Cleveland Guardians. However, as we type this, the Guardians are down big against the Baltimore Orioles, so the Blue Jays are likely to move back to one game back. We will update this story when that game goes final.
The Texas Rangers lost to the Mariners on Wednesday, so the Blue Jays were unable to pick up further ground on them. They remain 0.5 games back of Toronto.
Toronto had six hits against the Athletics porous pitching staff, but could muster no runs and just one extra-base hit, a double by Brett Bateman. Toronto left seven men on base.
On the mound, Toronto utilized a bullpen game, with bulk pitcher Michael Lorenzen giving up two runs in 2.2 innings.
The Blue Jays will be off on Thursday before starting a critical series with the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards on Friday at 7:07 p.m. ET.
Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto (7) reacts after striking out against the Athletics in the ninth inning at Sutter Health Park. Cary Edmondson-Imagn ImagesAlso in the news for the Blue Jays
--Blue Jays pitcher Jameson Taillon is having his elbow MRI looked at by outside doctors (Dr. Meister).
Taillon, 34, is a 10-year veteran of the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs and Blue Jays who has gone 84-66 in his career with a 3.99 ERA. The Cubs designated him for assignment earlier this summer, only for the Jays to acquire him right around the time that they traded Kevin Gausman to Chicago.
He is 2-6 this season with a 5.65 ERA between the two organizations. His situation is fairly complex for a number of reasons. He's already had two Tommy John surgeries in his career, he's a free agent at the end of the season so he won't be rehabbing any injuries under the guidance of a medical staff, and because of the pending lockout, he won't have access to any medical personnel once it hits (Dec. 1).
