Blue Jays win second series in a row

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The Blue Jays will not make it any easier for their management to decide on buyers or sellers at the trade deadline.

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In the second set in a row – and with one set remaining before the All-Star break – the Jays clinched the series victory, winning the decisive game in San Francisco on Thursday 5-3.

The Jays will complete the portion of the schedule before the All-Star tournament with three games in Arizona starting Friday.

Kevin Gausman, who had a solid performance in a 2-1 loss at Seattle earlier in the trip, delivered seven strong innings for the Jays and went into the break with a 7-8 record.

He allowed just two runs, both of which came on a home run by Heliot Ramos in the first inning, before settling down and shutting out the Giants to zero with six hits and no walks over the next six innings.

Gausman continued his promising start against the M’s by increasing the velocity of his fastball and splitter as well, getting back into form; this time, however, it was enough for the win.

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Danny Jansen and Spencer Horwitz both hit home runs in the game. Horwitz’s fourth-inning hit sailed over the stands before bouncing into McCovey Cove. He also hit a double in the first inning.

Toronto did all its damage against San Francisco’s starter and loser Jordan Hicks, a reliever who is moving into the rotation this year.

Hicks allowed all five of the Jays’ runs in his 4.1 innings, allowing eight hits and one walk.

The Jays were without both Bo Bichette and Daulton Varsho, who left Wednesday’s game due to a calf and knee injury, respectively.

Varsho only suffered a bruise and would apparently have been available as a substitute on Thursday if he had been needed.

Bichette is dealing with a strained right calf, the same injury that landed him on the injured list last month, and the team will wait another day to see if he needs another stint on the injured list.

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NO, BO, BUT THAT MAY NOT BE THE NEWS

The potentially more newsworthy story about Bichette was an interview with a local station before Wednesday night’s game in San Francisco.

To be fair, Bichette didn’t necessarily say that San Francisco is on his wish list if the Jays want to trade him before the July 31 deadline. The real question seemed to be whether San Francisco is generally a desirable city for major league players. Bichette’s answer can be interpreted in a number of ways.

“I haven’t really explored the city yet,” Bichette said. “The most important thing for me is to win. That would be my top priority if I were to pick a team, and the Giants are obviously focused on that.”

“They are in a great position to get the right players and I think that’s what’s important,” Bichette told the local TV partner.

With only one year left on his contract after this season and no extension in sight, Bichette could be on the move right before the transfer deadline. Toronto’s current struggles, notwithstanding the last two series, only make that more likely.

But to be fair to Bichette, the most important part of his quote would be, “If I were to pick a team.”

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Paving the way to sales

Kevin Kiermaier could be another victim of the Jays’ lack of success this year.

A team that has already cut veterans Cavan Biggio and Tim Mayza from the roster has placed the veteran outfielder on a revocable waivers, according to the New York Post.

Kiermaier is on a one-year deal that will pay him $10.1 million this season, nearly $6 million of which has already been paid out, but the Jays are looking to get under the luxury tax threshold before the end of the season.

It’s unlikely that a team will claim Kiermaier. But if he goes unclaimed, that opens the door for an immediate release. Of course, he could always be part of a trade dump at the deadline.

Kiermaier, along with teammates Jansen, Yusei Kikuchi, Yimi Garcia, Trevor Richards and Justin Turner, will all become free agents this winter, and if the Jays decide to become sellers at the trade deadline, some or all of them could go.

Kiermaier began the day with a .183 batting average, but had a pretty good afternoon with a couple of singles and his usually solid play in center field, including the spectacular catch of a sinking liner in favor of Gausman.

Mayza, on the other hand, has signed a minor league contract with the Yankees and, given the way things are going in New York’s bullpen, could face Toronto later this year.

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