Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays are reportedly giving second baseman Marcus Semien the $18.4 million qualifying offer, per MLB Network's Jon Heyman.

Heyman also noted Robbie Ray will receive the one-year offer from Toronto. 

Every player who receives the one-year qualifying offer has until Nov. 17 to accept or reject it. 

A player can still re-sign with his old team if he rejects the offer, but he will also be allowed to negotiate with other clubs as a free agent. 

If the player signs with another team, his previous club will receive a draft pick as compensation. 

Semien is coming off a career-best season, posting a triple slash of .265/.334/.538 with 45 home runs, 102 runs batted in and 15 steals. He slid over to second base after signing the one-year contract with the Blue Jays. However, he has maintained he sees himself more as a shortstop.

"I still see myself as a shortstop. I've been playing the position for so long. Now I go over there to second, and I'm hitting more home runs, so it's all good. I've never had my name in any record book, so it's really cool," Semien told reporters. 

The Oakland Athletics chose not to offer Semien a qualifying last offseason, leading him to sign a one-year, $18 million deal in Toronto. 

Extending Semien this qualifying offer is a matter of semantics; it's a near-guarantee that he will receive a massive long-term contract on the open market.

The Blue Jays are undoubtedly interested in bringing Semien back, but this protects them in the form of draft compensation if he priced himself out of their market. 

Ray's decision is fascinating to examine. It would seem unlikely that he takes the one-year tender. The 30-year-old is coming off the best season of his career, leading the AL in ERA (2.84), innings pitched (193.1), strikeouts (248) and WHIP (1.05).

But that came after a 2020 season split between the Blue Jays and Arizona Diamondbacks in which he walked 45 batters in 51.2 innings. 

Ray has historically been someone who will throw a lot of pitches because he racks up plenty of strikeouts and walks. Before this season, the southpaw has never averaged fewer than 3.5 walks per nine innings in a season since making his MLB debut in 2014. He averaged 5.1 free passes per nine innings in 69 appearances from 2018-20. 

This isn't a particularly strong market for free-agent starting pitchers. Ray, Kevin Gausman and Marcus Stroman are arguably the top three available. Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw and Carlos Rodon have high ceilings, but concerns about age and/or durability could limit the potential offers they will receive. 

Ray's age and durability will make him an attractive option for teams seeking help in the rotation. It's up to him to decide if it's worth testing the market to get a long-term deal or take the one-year deal from Toronto. 

The screws are tightening in the American League Wild Card race heading into the final two days of the regular season. 

After their 4-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday night at Nationals Park, the Boston Red Sox have moved within one game of the New York Yankees for the top spot. 

The Yankees lost 4-3 at home to the Tampa Bay Rays, who have already clinched the AL East title. 

The Toronto Blue Jays were able to stay within one game of the Red Sox thanks to their 6-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre. 

The Seattle Mariners are hosting the Los Angeles Angels in their final series of the regular season. The first game got underway at 10:10 p.m. ET. The Mariners will remain tied with the Red Sox in the second wild-card position with a win tonight. 

Updated AL Wild Card Standings

1. New York Yankees (91-69)

2. Boston Red Sox (90-70; 1 GB)

3. Seattle Mariners (89-70; 1.5 GB)

4. Toronto Blue Jays (89-71; 1 GB of No. 2 WC)

Coming into Friday's games, the Yankees had an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth. They would have needed to defeat the Rays and see a loss by either the Red Sox or Mariners. 

Even though the Red Sox have one of the easiest matchups of the weekend among the contenders, they were coming off five losses in their past six games, including two of three to the Orioles earlier this week. 

DIEHARD BALTIMORE ORIOLES FAN CLUB RISE UP! pic.twitter.com/kX6nlCFsrH

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) October 1, 2021

Boston's offense got off to a slow start against Nationals starter Josh Rogers before breaking through with four runs in the top of the sixth. Hunter Renfroe and Bobby Dalbec hit back-to-back homers to provide all of the scoring for the Red Sox. 

Hello, here is...
𝗛𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗. pic.twitter.com/4DiYk35pNZ

— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 2, 2021

In the Bronx, the Rays and Yankees looked like they were going to play a high-scoring affair after trading runs in the first inning and Tampa added a run in the top of the second. 

And we're off to a BOOMING start pic.twitter.com/P8bZuFW53z

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 1, 2021

Tampa's pitching staff did a fantastic job of limiting the Yankees for most of the game after the first. The Bronx Bombers didn't get a runner into scoring position over the next seven innings. 

New York did bring the go-ahead run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth. Joey Gallo and Brett Gardner drove in runs with RBI singles. Gary Sanchez, who was pinch-hitting for Kyle Higashioka with runners on first and second, went down swinging for the second out. 

Rays closer Andrew Kittredge got Rougned Odor to strike out to end the game. 

The Blue Jays looked like they were going to cruise to victory after taking a 6-0 lead going into the top of the seventh. Danny Jansen and Corey Dickerson each hit homers in the game. 

Baltimore was able to make things interesting with four runs in the top of the eighth. Kelvin Gutierrez and Pat Valaika homered, and Trey Mancini drove in a run with an RBI single. Jordan Romano closed out the contest with a perfect ninth inning. 

Looking ahead to Saturday's games, the Yankees will send Jordan Montgomery to the mound against Rays rookie Shane Baz at 1:05 p.m. ET. The Orioles have ace John Means going against Toronto rookie Alek Manoah at 3:07 p.m. 

The Red Sox have yet to name a starter for their game against the Nationals at 4:05 p.m. The Mariners will have the luxury of knowing where everyone stands when their showdown with the Angels starts at 9:10. 

Marcus Semien made history Wednesday.

The Toronto Blue Jays star hit his 44th home run of the year, setting the MLB single-season mark for a second baseman:

Semien’s 44th homer as a 2B is a NEW @MLB single-season record! pic.twitter.com/9NJ9gbsWG4

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) September 29, 2021

SEMI-EN THE HISTORY BOOKS! pic.twitter.com/uZfAIFRXja

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) September 29, 2021

Semien, 31, is having a career year, already setting career highs in homers, RBI (101) and stolen bases (15).

He was also named as an All-Star for the first time in his career, though he was something of a snub in the 2019 season (33 homers, 92 RBI, 123 runs, .892 OPS) after he finished third in the MVP voting that year but wasn't an ASG selection.

His production has been a huge reason the Blue Jays remain in the hunt for a playoff berth, currently just a game back of the Boston Red Sox for the final wild-card spot in the American League.

Most HR in a season, 1B & 2B, on the same team:

90 - Ryan Howard/Chase Utley, 2006 Phillies

90 - Vlad Guerrero Jr./Marcus Semien, 2021 Blue Jays

— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) September 29, 2021

Semien breaks the record Davey Johnson set while playing for the Braves in 1973 https://t.co/2BnxmO35fH

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) September 29, 2021

Semien hasn't taken a day off, either, appearing in all 158 games for the Blue Jays this season.

"I could tell that's just what he wants, it's what he does. He's here to play every game," Jays manager Charlie Montoyo told Yahoo Sports' Hannah Keyser. "He doesn't need a day off, which I love guys like that. But then when you go through a season you figure, 'Man, you're gonna have to have a day off sometime.'"

Not Semien, who also played the full 162 in 2019.

"My focus is actually on playing till the last game of the World Series," he told Keyser. "That would be an extra, I don't know how many games. You put your mind towards that date instead of the end of the season."

At this rate, he might just bash the Blue Jays into the postseason himself.

Toronto Blue Jays star Marcus Semien hit his 43rd home run of the season Saturday night, tying the MLB record for the most home runs by a second baseman in a single season.

Most single-season HR by a 2B in @MLB HISTORY:

T1) Marcus Semien - 43 (2021) 🤯
T1) Davey Johnson - 43 (1973) pic.twitter.com/RKVEUs4ZXd

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) September 26, 2021

Semien's record-tying blast was a solo shot in the sixth inning off Minnesota Twins reliever Luke Farrell. Semien also had a single in the game, and the Blue Jays went on to win 6-1.

After the game, Semien commented on his historic home run, per SI Now's Ethan Diamandas:

#BlueJays' Marcus Semien on his record-tying 43rd homer of the season:

"I've never had my name in any record book or anything like that, so it's really cool."

— Ethan Diamandas (@EthanDiamandas) September 26, 2021

He also joked that, despite the record, he still doesn't think of himself as a second baseman, per Sportsnet's Arash Madani:

Marcus Semien: "I still see myself as a shortstop."

— Arash Madani (@ArashMadani) September 26, 2021

With seven games left in the season, Semien has a good shot at breaking Davey Johnson's record, which he set as a member of the Atlanta Braves in 1973. He'll get his next opportunity Sunday afternoon in the series finale against the Twins.

It's been a year to remember for the 31-year-old infielder, who signed a one-year, $18 million deal with the Blue Jays after spending the last six seasons in Oakland. He was voted to his first All-Star game in July and will finish the season with career bests in home runs, RBI and stolen bases. His .341 on-base percentage and .544 slugging percentage would also be high marks if they hold. 

After spending almost his entire career at shortstop, the change of scenery and position has helped Semien become one of the sport's top players. The Blue Jays will continue to rely on his bat down the stretch as they trail Boston and New York in the AL Wild Card race.

With seven games left in the season, Semien has a good shot at breaking Davey Johnson's record, which he set as a member of the Atlanta Braves in 1973. He'll get his next opportunity Sunday afternoon in the series finale against the Twins.

Toronto Blue Jays reliever Ryan Borucki and manager Charlie Montoyo have been suspended after Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier was hit by a pitch during Wednesday's game.

Borucki received a three-game suspension, which he is expected to appeal. Montoyo told reporters at Target Field that he received a one-game ban, and he will serve it on Thursday against the Minnesota Twins. 

The situation between Kiermaier and the Jays began on Monday night. The Rays outfielder picked up a data card that fell out of Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk's wristband as he was making a tag on Kiermaier at the plate. 

Per Arash Madani of SportsNet, the card contained Toronto's pitching game plan for Rays hitters. 

Montoyo told reporters after Tuesday's game between the two teams that Rays manager Kevin Cash apologized to him for the situation. The Blue Jays skipper described it as "agua under the bridge" at that point. 

Borucki apparently didn't get that message for the final game of the series on Wednesday night. The left-hander hit Kiermaier in the back with his first pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning. 

Both benches cleared, though there was no physical altercation, and Borucki was immediately ejected from the game. Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker was also tossed out by the umpires after arguing about Borucki's ejection. 

The Rays went on to win the game 7-1 to clinch their third consecutive postseason berth.    

The supposed truce between the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays lasted just seven innings. 

In the bottom of the eighth Wednesday, the Jays took out the remainder of their frustration with Tampa's Kevin Keirmaier, hitting him with a 93 mph fastball in the numbers and causing both benches to clear.   

On Monday, Kevin Kiermaier picked up a card with the Blue Jays game plan and the Rays reportedly refused to give it back.

Today, the Jays hit Kiermaier with a pitch and the benches cleared.

(via @MLB) https://t.co/FCfdgUJsTA

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 22, 2021

Ryan Borucki has been ejected.

Pete Walker is absolutely livid and being held back by Montoyo and Schneider.

— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) September 22, 2021

Ryan Borucki says that he missed arm-side and hit Kevin Kiermaier accidentally in the 8th. #BlueJays

— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) September 22, 2021

Nothing else come of the fracas, which goes back to Kiermaier picking up a data card dropped by Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk during a play at the plate earlier in the series. Toronto was incensed that their American League East rival had access to its scouting report. 

Earlier Wednesday, MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported Rays manager Kevin Cash and Jays skipper Charlie Montoyo cleared the air over the incident. That message apparently wasn't relayed to Toronto reliever Ryan Borucki, who will likely face a suspension unless MLB buys his excuse that he just "missed" with his pitch. 

 

Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier claims he did not look at the Toronto Blue Jays data card that he picked up after being tagged out in the sixth inning of the Rays-Jays game on Monday.

"I never even looked at it, I'll say that," Kiermaier told Arash Madani of Sportsnet. "But at the same time, I'm not going to drop it or hand it back."

Madani provided detail, highlights and more Kiermaier quotes.

Spoke w/ Kiermaier. These are his comments.

Around 5:20 pm, Kevin Cash came out to speak with Charlie Montoyo about it.

The Jays are pissed. As a team source told me, "if there’s one card we wouldn’t want any opponent to have, it’s that one"

More at 6:30 pm on @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/Rp6iaGNPwM

— Arash Madani (@ArashMadani) September 21, 2021

The Rays ended up winning Monday's game 6-4.

The Kiermaier incident brought forth a host of opinions.

"Kiermaier did absolutely nothing wrong," Chris Carlin of ESPN Radio tweeted."Bad on Kirk for dropping it. Sorry."

The Toronto Star had this take, per an opinion piece from Mike Wilner.

Was Kevin Kiermaier scooping up Alejandro Kirk's cheat sheet the morally correct thing to do? No. Would everyone on the #BlueJays have done the same thing? Yes.

If you don’t want important information stolen, take better care of it. New @Wilnerness column:https://t.co/29ksxafHg8

— Toronto Star Sports (@StarSports) September 22, 2021

Tao of Stieb, a Sportsnet blogger, tweeted this perspective: "I would have more respect for Kiermaier if he just owned it. If he saw it and picked it up, so be it. All this 'aw shucks, I didn’t even, I don’t know, I just handed it to someone and never heard of it again' is pretty fake."

As Kiermaier noted, he did not give the card back.

This incident occurred during a very important series with postseason ramifications for both teams.

Given that the Toronto Blue Jays have spent the bulk of the season (85 days, to be exact) in fourth place in the American League East, they ought to pat themselves on the back for how they'd nonetheless be in possession of the AL's top wild-card spot if the 2021 campaign ended today.

Or they could just as easily keep pounding the crud out of their enemies until there's nobody left to oppose them.  

Punctuated by MVP candidate Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s nine home runs, the Blue Jays are 15-2 with a plus-62 run differential since Aug. 28. Their most notable accomplishments include never even trailing in a four-game sweep of the New York Yankees and dropping a club-record 47 runs in a subsequent four-gamer opposite the Baltimore Orioles.

Granted, this Major League Baseball season has already seen its share of red-hot teases that suddenly fizzled. Take the Yankees, who are just 4-12 since winning 13 in a row between Aug. 14 and 27. Or Atlanta, which went 16-2 between Aug. 3 and 22 but has last 10 of 18 since then. Or the Oakland Athletics, who are just 63-59 since winning 13 in a row in April.

Yet while the Blue Jays' recent hot stretch has only improved their record to 81-63, it's also pushed what was already a pretty good run differential into downright great territory at plus-174. That's actually between the Tampa Bay Rays (plus-170) and Houston Astros (plus-192), who've won 89 and 84 games, respectively.

So, don't see the Blue Jays as a team that's just lucky to be where it is. If anything, they're one that other teams will be lucky to beat in October.

---

MLB's Most Terrifying Offense

The Blue Jays already had one of the best offenses in MLB even before they caught fire, ranking second with a .776 OPS and 189 home runs through Aug. 27.

Cut to now, and they're all alone in first place in both categories with a .802 OPS and 232 home runs.

The Blue Jays hit homers in bunches en route to the playoffs in 2020, so it's not the biggest surprise that the long ball is their main offensive weapon in 2021. Indeed, the only way that was ever not going to be the case was if they got nothing out of free-agent signees George Springer and Marcus Semien while Guerrero continued to play below the huge expectations that previously accompanied him as baseball's No. 1 prospect.

Instead, Guerrero has indeed broken out with a 1.018 OPS and 45 home runs, while Springer's and Semien's combined numbers come out to an .889 OPS and 56 homers. Teoscar Hernandez (27), Bo Bichette (24) and Randal Grichuk (22) have each topped 20 homers. With 19 to his name, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. will get there soon.

Why focus on the home runs? Well, two reasons:

1. Home runs are fun, darn it
2. Home runs are also extremely useful in October

To that second point, four of the last five World Series have gone to the team that won the home run battle. And out of 149 total playoff games between 2016 and 2020 in which a team hit at least two home runs, 108 came with a win.

As evidenced by their MLB-high 66 games with at least two home runs, the Blue Jays are certainly capable of those kinds of outbursts. And if you go looking for reasons why this habit might not translate to October, you're bound to come up empty.

Even though they've played their home games at three different hitter-friendly parks, the Blue Jays are only slightly better at going yard at home (1.7 per game) than they are on the road (1.5 per game). And while Charlie Montoyo's lineups lean to the right, the team has a higher slugging percentage against righties (.468) than against lefties (.465).

Approach-wise, the Blue Jays are in the bottom half of the American League in out-of-zone swing rate. They're not easily beaten within the strike zone, where their .553 slugging percentage is the best in MLB.

Toronto also leads the majors with a .501 SLG against fastballs and a .444 SLG against breaking stuff, so its .381 SLG against off-speed might underscore the team's only true weakness. But since such pitches account for only 12.9 percent of all offerings, off-speed might not be to the Blue Jays what the heel is to Achilles.

The Springer factor is still another consideration. He's having an excellent season in his own right, yet just as significant is how much he's elevated Toronto's entire offense when he's been healthy:

• 84 games without Springer: .773 OPS and 5.0 R/G
• 60 games with Springer: .843 OPS and 5.8 R/G

Basically, Toronto's offense has been the league's best even though it's been at full strength for only 40 percent of its games. When it is at full strength with Springer, it's unstoppable.

---

These Jays Can Pitch, Too

As for why it took so long for the Blue Jays to find their stride, the over-simplified answer is that even an offense as good as theirs can only do so much in the face of unreliable pitching.

Even as recently as July 29, Toronto's overall team ERA began with a four. The blame for that was split pretty much evenly between the rotation, which had a 3.97 ERA, and the bullpen, whose ERA was at 4.05.

In the weeks since then, the 3.58 ERA attached to Toronto would indicate that its pitching staff has at least achieved a level of respectability. The actual truth, though, is that the team's arms could be just as instrumental in a deep postseason run as its bats.

To wit, the Jays have a top-notch Game 1 starter in the person of Robbie Ray. He began the year as a sort of reclamation project after a disastrous 2020, but more consistent mechanics have led to enhanced control and, ultimately, a 2.69 ERA and 220 strikeouts over 170.1 innings. By rWAR, he's the man to beat for the AL Cy Young Award.

At least in theory, Toronto has two additional playoff aces in veteran southpaw Hyun Jin Ryu and trade deadline acquisition Jose Berrios, both of whom boast All-Star credentials. The former's 7.27 ERA since Aug. 8 pushes back on that a little, but he should get on track if he can shake his suspiciously high .320 BABIP during this span.

In the bullpen, Montoyo has recently cultivated a downright dominant late-inning foursome: Jordan Romano, Adam Cimber, Tim Mayza and Trevor Richards. They've handled 68 innings since the beginning of August and pitched to a 2.25 ERA with 68 more strikeouts than walks.

Throw in Steven Matz, who's quietly been hot with a 2.42 ERA in eight starts since Aug. 4. Also rookie Alek Manoah, who's quietly put up a 3.39 ERA in 17 outings. And flame-throwing prospect Nate Pearson, who's been clocked as high as 101 mph since returning to the majors on Sept. 3. And also Julian Merryweather, who was an early sensation before an oblique strain sidelined him for five months.

So, never mind ERA. A more telling measure of the health of Toronto's pitching staff might be its 5.9 fWAR since July 30. That's the best in the American League.

---

Untested, Comfortable and Computer Darlings

The other "yeah, but..." that can be applied to the Blue Jays' winning streak is that they've been beating up on bad teams. Namely, lowly clubs like the Orioles and Detroit Tigers and diminished versions of the Yankees and A's.

Yet the Blue Jays don't need to prove that they can also beat good teams. That's something they've been doing all season, as their 45 wins against .500 or better clubs are the most in MLB.

It also shouldn't be lost that the Blue Jays had to keep their ship steady even as various COVID-19-related measures have forced them to play their home games in three different ballparks. They didn't get to return to the Rogers Centre until July 31, capping a 670-day hiatus from their digs in Toronto.

As if their demeanor wasn't enough to sell the point, the Blue Jays' performance is definitely evidence that they're happy to be home again. Though their 15-2 run has definitely helped, their 29-15 record since returning to the Rogers Centre is the best in the American League.

Ultimately, all this has swayed the odds about as much as you'd think.

According to FanGraphs, Toronto's chances of simply making the playoffs are nearly 70 percent higher now than they were at the end of August. Likewise, their chances of going to the World Series and winning it for the first time since 1993 have gone from virtually nonexistent to 11 percent and 6 percent, respectively. 

The way they're going, it's a good guess that those numbers aren't done climbing yet.

---

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.

The Toronto Blue Jays are interested in keeping second baseman Marcus Semien and starting pitcher Robbie Ray around long-term.

"According to sources, they’ve attempted to sign Semien to an extension, without success to this point, and plan to approach Ray about a new deal this offseason," Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported Sunday.

The Blue Jays inked Semien and Ray to one-year deals last offseason.

Both contracts have clearly paid off: Semien entered Sunday with 81 RBI and an .858 OPS. He homered Sunday against the Oakland Athletics to give himself 35 on the year.

Ray, who started against Oakland on Sunday, entered the ballgame with a 10-5 record, an American League-leading 2.71 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 159.1 frames. He added to those totals by tossing 6.2 shutout innings while striking out 10.

Semien's one-year deal was for $18 million, while Ray's was quite a bargain at just $8 million. The former will turn 31 years old later this month, while the latter turns 30 in October.

However, Semien is now one of the best middle infielders in baseball, and Ray is a strikeout artist and established ace. Both figure to land lucrative, long-term contracts following All-Star-caliber seasons.

The question is whether the Jays are able to retain both of them. Toronto has the misfortune of being fourth in a competitive American League East division despite holding a 73-62 record. Semien and Ray are big reasons why the team has been so competitive despite the brutal schedule.

As Rosenthal noted, however, Ray might be the more valuable player if the Jays could only sign one, and that's because Toronto already has an excellent young lineup without the former Oakland Athletics shortstop. The Blue Jays have an embarrassment of riches, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and Teoscar Hernandez.

The Jays have an above-average pitching staff that ranks fifth in the American League with a 3.89 ERA, but Ray is the clear ace on the team, and his efforts have proved to be invaluable this year.

For now, the Jays are fighting to remain in the American League wild-card race with under a month left in the season.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer is going on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left knee, per manager Charlie Montoyo.

The Jays announced that they are are calling up infielder Otto Lopez from Triple-A Buffalo in Springer's place.

Montoyo said he was unaware of a timeline for Springer's return and that he hoped to see him back before the end of the season, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.

More tests will be conducted on Springer, who has amassed 16 home runs and 35 RBI despite playing in only 49 games in an injury-shortened 2021 campaign.

Springer went on the injured list on April with a left oblique strain. One month later, he went on the injured list with a right quad strain.

The ex-Houston Astro played only four games until June 22, when he finally was able to join the Blue Jays lineup on a consistent basis. He stayed there through Aug. 14, when he was forced to leave his team's game against the Seattle Mariners.

Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors provided more information on the injury:

Springer made an awkward landing while attempting to catch a Ty France triple to the wall in the seventh inning, and Springer immediately grabbed at his ankle area after hitting the ground. He was able to walk off the field under his own power, albeit gingerly.

Springer was initially considered day-to-day with a mild ankle sprain, per Montoyo, but he'll now spend his third stint on the injured list this year. 

Losing the All-Star talent is a tough blow to a Blue Jays team currently fighting for a wild-card berth. Without him, the Blue Jays' outfield should consist of Randal Grichuk in center for Springer, Teoscar Hernandez in right and either Corey Dickerson or Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in left.

Grichuk has hit .251 (.735 OPS) with 20 home runs and 72 RBI this year.