The Toronto Blue Jays’ offense struck again in Game 4, tying the American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners at two games apiece.
Forty-one-year-old, three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings while striking out five in what was visibly a passionate performance. On the other side, pitching on maximum rest, Seattle starter Luis Castillo failed to make it beyond the third inning, forcing the Mariners to turn to their bullpen early.
Despite Scherzer’s steady outing, it was once again the Blue Jays’ bats that stole the show. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered for the fifth time this postseason, while Andrés Giménez went deep for the second time in as many games. Toronto has now scored 59 runs with 17 home runs in eight postseason games. The Blue Jays have tallied at least five runs in six of those games, including three outings with 10 or more.
All of this has come without one of their top contributors, Bo Bichette, who remains sidelined with a left knee sprain. While scoring runs isn’t new for Toronto — they finished third in the majors during the regular season with 5.04 runs per game — their surge in power has been surprising.
Leading all postseason teams with 17 home runs, the Blue Jays didn’t even finish in the top 10 in homers during the regular season, ranking tied for 11th alongside non-playoff teams like the Baltimore Orioles and Minnesota Twins.
Now, Toronto’s red-hot offense has swung momentum back in its favor, winning two straight. Game 5 will be pivotal, with the winner moving one step closer to the World Series.