MLB: inconstancy harms the Blue Jays

BETTING À DAY

Right to confirm their place in the playoffs, the Blue Jays are unable to show consistency. By virtue of their 7-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday in Toronto, they have failed to win two straight games in their last 10 meetings.

What more is, after winning their series against the Baltimore Orioles, the Tampa Bay Rays are only one game behind the Jays, who are the No. 1 draft teams in the American League.

The struggles of Canada's only major league team on the mound continued in today's duel. Manhandled by visitor hitters, Kevin Gausman (8-9) only had four and two-thirds innings of work, during which he allowed five earned runs on nine hits.

Amed Rosario has also announced the intentions of his people on his first turn at bat. He hit a long solo ball to open the scoring, his first of two productive hits in the game.

Teoscar Hernandez brought both teams back to square one by sending Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to the plate with a double moments later, but that wasn't enough to stop the bleeding.

Between the second and fifth innings, catcher Austin Hedges drove in two runs on a single and a double, then Josh Naylor and Owen Miller helped the party go and built the Guardians' lead.

Santiago Espinal scored gave the Jays a glimmer of hope by scoring on a ground ball from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but the hosts were unable to debunk Shane Bieber (8-6) or the relievers who came after him.

Bieber struck out six batters in the win, allowing just two earned runs in seven innings. The Jays had eight hits on his back, but struggled to complete their lap of the trails.

The Queen City team will have the opportunity to rally in front of their fans on Monday, when she will receive the Orioles for the first duel of a series that includes three.