Blue Jays bats can't back Stroman's quality start

CLEVELAND -- The struggling Blue Jays’ lineup has been waiting for that one big moment. The one swing that will help turn things around for an organization which has had almost nothing go right so far this season. The Blue Jays thought they found it on Sunday afternoon. They were wrong.

Toronto was swept out of Cleveland as the ice-cold bats once again went missing, during a 3-1 loss to the Indians at Progressive Field. Another strong start was wasted, this time from right-hander Marcus Stroman, who has allowed just five runs in three starts and doesn’t have a win to show for it. Why? The Blue Jays haven’t scored a single run while he’s been in the game.

“I think all the guys are doing everything in their power to make adjustments and make changes,” said Stroman, who has a 2.41 ERA. “I think we’re just struggling a bit right now. That’s baseball. It’s a long season, it’s the first two weeks, so I think we’ll be better. I think we’ll be better going forward, and I think guys are going to change their plans and make adjustments and hopefully put together some quality ABs.”

For a very brief moment during Sunday’s series finale the Blue Jays thought they were onto something. The much-maligned Socrates Brito, who has yet to register a hit since joining Toronto earlier this week, led off the fourth with a walk against starter Mike Clevinger. Freddy Galvis then followed with a double to the corner in right field to put runners on second and third with nobody out. Finally, the Blue Jays had something going. Except, in this case, that turned out to be misleading.

The scene that followed the Galvis at-bat was ripped directly from the script of Week 1. Randal Grichuk fell behind 0-2 and then swung at an 82 mph slider outside the zone for a strikeout. Rowdy Tellez followed, and he too fell behind 0-2, before eventually striking out on a 97 mph fastball that appeared to be at least a foot above the strike zone. Then, adding insult to injury, Teoscar Hernandez struck out swinging on a 98 mph fastball and just like that, the threat that seemed so promising, ended with a whimper instead of a bang.

“Our pitching staff is doing great, it’s just our hitting that’s frustrating right now,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. “It’s funny, in this game when you’re not swinging the bats, two runs seem like 20, and that was the feeling when they scored those two runs.

“Our approach has not been really good. I’m not going to sugar coat, it’s been really bad. But I promise you one thing -- we’re going to work on it and we’re going to continue to work on it until we get out of this slump we’re into right now.”

Clevinger struck out 10 in five innings before exiting with back tightness, compounding the Blue Jays' continuing problem through the first 11 games of the season. Toronto’s lineup has reached double-digit strikeouts seven times, including each of the last four games. After fanning 16 times Sunday, the Blue Jays have struck out 111 times, which as of last pitch was the most in the Major Leagues. Detroit, Seattle, and Tampa Bay entered play on Sunday with 92.

Simply making contact has been a constant struggle, and it got even worse vs. Cleveland. This marked the first time in franchise history the Blue Jays struck out at least 13 times in four consecutive games, and only three other teams have done it in MLB history: Arizona (2017), Tampa Bay ('15) and Houston ('13). Toronto struck out 57 times over the four-game series, which is is the second most in franchise history, and second only to 61 strikeouts at Houston on Aug. 1-4, 2016.

Those numbers are why it should come as no surprise Toronto’s 64 hits this season are the fewest in franchise history through 11 games. In fact, it shattered the previous low of 73, which was set in '17 as part of a 2-9 start. The 19 hits in Cleveland were their second-fewest in a four-game series, with the most coming on June 25-28, 2001 vs. Baltimore.

The lack of runs means that strong outings from the starting rotation have gone by the wayside. Toronto starters have allowed two runs or fewer eight times this season, and Stroman was a seeing-eye single away from making it nine times on Sunday. Stroman had his third consecutive strong outing to open the year, but an RBI double by Carlos Santana, an RBI single by Tyler Naquin and an RBI single by Jose Ramirez was all it took to saddle him with his second loss of the season.

Toronto does have the luxury of enjoying on off-day on Monday before opening a mini two-game series against the Red Sox on Tuesday afternoon. Boston’s rotation entered play on Sunday with a 9.13 ERA, which was ranked dead last in the Major Leagues. That means something will have to give in the series opener, and the Blue Jays will be hoping a trip to Fenway Park is just what this team needs to wake up the slumbering bats. The problem is, Boston is likely saying the exact opposite.

“It’s early; it’s early still,” Stroman said. “We’re struggling a bit, but our guys are continuing to show up. They’re putting in the work, and I think the tides will hopefully change here soon. Going into Boston, hopefully getting in there and putting together some good ABs against [Chris] Sale and hopefully coming out with a win.”

Buchholz begins rehab
Right-hander Clay Buchholz officially began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday afternoon. Buchholz allowed five runs, three earned, on four hits. He didn’t walk a batter while striking out five, and throwing 48 of his 70 pitches for strikes. Buchholz’s biggest issue came with the long ball as he surrendered four home runs.

There’s a chance that Buchholz’s appearance on Sunday afternoon will be the only one he makes for the Bisons. Toronto needs another starting pitcher on April 13 vs. the Rays, and the Blue Jays previously mentioned Buchholz as a candidate for that outing. The Blue Jays are expected to wait and see how Buchholz feels over the next couple of days before making any official announcements.

Buchholz opened the year on the 10-day injured list with a right forearm flexor strain but he’s not hurt. That was the injury that ended his 2018 season and he began this year on the IL simply because he was signed late in Spring Training and required more time to get stretched out. Buchholz is expected to take Thomas Pannone’s spot in the starting five once activated.