Toronto Blue Jays face pitching and offensive challenges in recent losses

By Liam Tremblay — 29 August 2026 — 5 min read

Pitching struggles for Arrighetti

The Toronto Blue Jays recently acquired Spencer Arrighetti from the Houston Astros before the August 3 trade deadline. Initially, Arrighetti was not the primary focus of the trade discussions, which largely centered on the departure of veterans Kevin Gausman, Jeff Hoffman, and Daulton Varsho, and the arrival of Jose Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels. However, due to several injuries within the starting rotation, Arrighetti has taken on a more prominent role for the team as they pursue a playoff spot.

Arrighetti’s initial performances have been challenging. In his debut against the New York Yankees, he allowed three runs over 3 1/3 innings. His subsequent outing on Thursday at the Rogers Centre saw him give up four runs over four innings in a 13-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals. Arrighetti acknowledged the pressure, stating that he is trying to establish himself with the Blue Jays while the team is pushing for the playoffs and he is attempting to make adjustments.

When Arrighetti was first acquired, the Blue Jays’ rotation included Dylan Cease, Soriano, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber, Max Scherzer, and Jameson Taillon. This depth initially suggested Arrighetti would be in the bullpen before potentially competing for a starting position next spring. His immediate priority upon joining the team was to recover from a nerve issue in his foot that had placed him on the injured list while with Houston.

During Arrighetti’s rehabilitation, the Blue Jays experienced further setbacks with Yesavage undergoing knee surgery and Taillon dealing with an elbow issue. These injuries necessitated Arrighetti’s earlier-than-expected return, including a start in a 3-1 loss at Yankee Stadium. His start against the Royals followed the announcement that Bieber had been placed on the injured list due to a strained teres major. Manager John Schneider commented on the importance of acquiring a starter like Arrighetti, noting his potential significance for the remainder of the season and moving forward.

The Royals quickly capitalized on Arrighetti in the series finale. Carter Jensen hit a home run on the second pitch of the game, followed by singles from Bobby Witt Jr. and Jac Caglianone, and another run scored due to a fielding error by Arrighetti. Caglianone later hit a two-out single with runners on second and third in the second inning. Although Arrighetti pitched two more innings without further scoring, the damage was done, and the bullpen, including Simeon Woods Richardson, later allowed six runs on five hits and two walks in the sixth inning.

Despite these performances, Arrighetti’s role is not immediately jeopardized due to the team’s ongoing rotation needs. Taillon is a candidate to return from injury next week, potentially filling a rotation spot. The Blue Jays also signed veteran right-hander Michael Lorenzen prior to the series finale. Lorenzen, who allowed one run in two innings on Thursday, was released by the Colorado Rockies earlier this month after recording a 3-11 record with a 7.08 ERA.

Offensive struggles compound issues

The Blue Jays are also contending with persistent offensive challenges, which manager John Schneider noted magnify mistakes in close games. The team’s offensive struggles were evident in a 5-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals, a game that dropped their season record to 64-69. This loss occurred during a stretch of 30 games against teams with records below .500, which the Blue Jays are playing to close out the season.

Key errors in the game included a throwing error by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the sixth inning, which led to two runs for the Royals. Another critical moment was the final play of the game when Nathan Lukes was thrown out attempting to stretch a single into a double, leaving Guerrero on deck as the potential tying run. Schneider explained that when the team is not scoring, players can become “over-anxious” and try to force action.

The Blue Jays currently have the lowest-scoring offense in MLB, with 524 runs in 133 games. They also rank second-last in home runs with 124 and are second-last in on-base plus slugging (.686). This lack of power necessitates hitting with runners on base, a situation where the team has struggled. Against the Royals, they were 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position, with Lukes’ two-run single being their only hit in such situations, which also resulted in the final out. The team’s on-base percentage with runners in scoring position is .305, and their total OPS is .677.

Guerrero Jr.’s defensive miscue, which ultimately accounted for the difference in the Tuesday game, occurred despite him having a strong defensive season, placing in the 81st percentile in field run value according to MLB Statcast. At the plate, Guerrero was 1-for-4 with a double, and his season slash line is .262/.335/.354 with seven home runs and 46 RBI. Regarding Lukes’ baserunning decision, Schneider indicated he would have preferred Lukes to hold up and keep the inning alive to give Guerrero a chance to tie the game.

The Blue Jays are currently three games back from the final playoff spot in the American League, with 29 games remaining. Of the seven teams within four and a half games of that spot, four secured wins recently, including the Cleveland Guardians, who lead the wild-card race. Spencer Miles is scheduled to start Wednesday for the Blue Jays, filling in for the injured Shane Bieber, while Randy Dobnak will start for the Royals.

Source: tsn.ca