ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Simply put, the Blue Jays don’t have much going on offensively.
That might change relatively soon — it should, in fact. But in the meantime, games like this are going to happen far more often than they might like.
Back at the newly restored but still exasperating Tropicana Field for the first time since 2024, the Blue Jays scored just one run on the way to a 5-1 loss that brings their season record to 16-19.
Despite a new-look batting order that featured Daulton Varsho at designated hitter for the first time this season and Yohendrick Piñango in the leadoff spot for the second day in a row, the Blue Jays had trouble reaching base or making loud contact against starter Nick Martinez and the four relievers who followed.
Piñango contributed three hits while No. 2 hitter Kazuma Okamoto walked and singled to continue his hot streak, but otherwise the visiting lineup stayed quiet. A ninth-inning rally loaded the bases and forced the Rays to bring in closer Bryan Baker, but it all added up to just one extra-base hit and one run.
A day after being removed from the game due to an at-bat he later described as “trash,” Tyler Heineman was on the bench. Since manager John Schneider removed him late Sunday, it was no surprise to see Brandon Valenzuela get the start while Heineman prepared for his next start.
Behind the scenes, Alejandro Kirk’s expected to start swinging a bat soon, a significant step as he works his way back from a fracture in his left thumb. In the meantime, Valenzuela contributed a hit while catching a would-be base stealer.
Meanwhile, George Springer continues making progress after fouling a ball off his broken left toe Saturday. In fact, he stepped out onto the field to pinch hit in the ninth inning before a double play led Schneider to hold him back a little longer.
The manager also indicated that Addison Barger is expected to be activated by Friday, at which point the Blue Jays will have a tough decision to make about which position player comes off the roster. While Piñango has options, he’d be tough to remove from the lineup at a time that he’s hitting so well.
As for the Blue Jays’ pitching, it was solid if unspectacular on Monday. Starter Eric Lauer pitched into the fifth inning while allowing three earned runs, all of which came on a Ryan Vilade three-run homer in the first inning.
From there, the Blue Jays’ bullpen kept it close, allowing two more runs over 3.2 innings of work to allow for the possibility of a comeback. But there was no comeback to be had, so the search for offensive answers continues a little longer.
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