Struggles persist for the Blue Jays against the persistent Rays, with a chilling dip in offensive performance being the foremost worry
The Toronto Blue Jays faced a familiar foe in the Tampa Bay Rays, and unfortunately for the Jays, the outcome was the same as in their previous encounters this season. The Jays lost 4-0 on Thursday afternoon, marking their fourth consecutive loss against the Rays and their 14th loss in 17 games against them this season.
The Rays scored all their runs in the second inning, with Chandler Simpson and Brandon Lowe driving in two runs each. Carson Williams added a solo homer in the sixth inning.
Chris Bassitt took the loss for the Jays, allowing three runs over 4 1/3 innings. Bassitt struggled to finish off hitters, resulting in an elevated pitch count. He managed to generate whiffs on just eight of the Rays' 44 swings.
The Jays' struggles against the Rays this season can be attributed to their lack of offense. Alejandro Kirk, for instance, has seen a dip in his performance since September, with a .227 average. Several other players, including Davis Schneider, Nathan Lukes, Andres Gimenez, Ty France, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, have on-base plus slugging percentages well below .700 this month.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has also been struggling, with only two hits in his last 20 at-bats. The Jays' inability to score runs has been a recurring issue, with the team limited to three runs or fewer in six of their last 12 games.
The Rays have exposed the Jays' weaknesses more than other teams this season, a trend that has been ongoing since the Rays' inception in 1998. The Jays have a 147-239 all-time record on the road against the Rays.
This series against the Rays is significant for the Jays, as they still have three more games to play against them this season. Contending teams will likely analyze the video of this series to see if they can exploit the same weaknesses.
The Jays arrived in Central Florida with an outside chance of clinching a playoff spot, but their struggles against the Rays have made that goal more challenging. The team still isn't guaranteed to have injured shortstop Bo Bichette back for the start of the post-season.
Gregor Chisholm, the Toronto-based baseball columnist who covers the Blue Jays for The Star, emphasized the importance of addressing the team's offensive woes against the Rays. Follow him on Twitter under the username @GregorChisholm for more insights on the Blue Jays.
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