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Poor fielding and hitting undoing Blue Jays' playoff push after
all-star break

   John Chidley-Hill
   | The Canadian Press | Posted: July 23, 2026 5:02 PM | Last
   Updated: July 23

   Toronto has dropped 5 of its last 6 games, falling 6.5 games
   out of the final AL wild-card spot

   Image | BBO-Rays-Blue Jays 20260722

   Caption: The Toronto Blue Jays dropped their fifth loss in six
   games in Toronto on Wednesday, July 23 (Nathan Denette/The
   Canadian Press)
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   Leadoff hitter Yandy Diaz lofted a deep fly ball to the Rogers
   Centre's warning track with Toronto Blue Jays centre-fielder
   Daulton Varsho easily tracking it down.
   Varsho, a former Gold Glove Award winner, took a little hop to
   get the ball into his glove, but the ball popped out and fell
   to the turf for a fielding error, allowing Diaz to reach second
   base.
   The visiting Tampa Bay Rays took full advantage of Varsho's
   fielding error, scoring three runs, all unearned, in the sixth
   inning for a 4-2 win over Toronto on Wednesday.
   Manager John Schneider had a hard time explaining the play that
   saw Varsho charged with his second error of the season, and
   only the seventh of his career in centre.
   "We've got so many good defenders that when stuff like that
   happens, you're definitely surprised," said Schneider. "Yandy
   hit it hard but Daulton will be the first one to tell you that
   if you get your glove on it, you've got to catch it.
   "I think he maybe just took his eye off it for a split second,
   and, yeah, they took advantage of that."
   Sharp fielding was one of Toronto's hallmarks in their run to
   the World Series last season, as was good hitting, but both
   have flatlined.

Fewest runs scored in majors

   The Blue Jays (46-56) needed to string together some wins
   coming out of the all-star break to stay competitive in the
   American League's playoff race. Instead, they have lost five of
   six, getting outscored 38-10, and have fallen to 6 1/2 games
   out of a wild-card berth.
   Their 402 runs are the fewest in all of Major League Baseball
   this year, a sharp decline from 2025 when they finished the
   regular season with the fourth-best offence.
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   "It's been a tough stretch for sure, collectively up and down,"
   said Schneider. "But hopefully, you make adjustments.
   "I think guys are grinding, guys are pressing. You combine that
   with [Tampa's] good pitching, and that's that's kind of where
   we're at."
   Shane Bieber (1-1) takes the mound Thursday as Toronto tries to
   avoid a four-game sweep at the hands of the Rays.
   Ian Seymour (6-2) initially was scheduled to start for the Rays
   but will now pitch in bulk relief, with Casey Legumina opening
   the game.

Schneider recalled by Jays, Corbin on IL

   Utility player Davis Schneider and left-handed pitcher Adam
   Macko of Stony Plain, Alta., were summoned by the Toronto Blue
   Jays from triple-A Buffalo on Thursday.
   In a corresponding move, infielder Sean Keys was optioned to
   the minor-league club.
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   Left-handed pitcher Patrick Corbin was placed on Toronto's
   15-day injured list with a left teres major strain.
   Keys went 0-for-2 at the plate on Wednesday, dropping his
   average to .167 this season.
   Corbin last pitched on Tuesday when he gave up four runs on
   seven hits in 2 1/3 innings of relief in Toronto's 12-2 loss to
   Tampa.

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