The Toronto Blue Jays suffered a humiliating 16-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday, a game that was effectively over after the first inning. The defeat was particularly stinging as the Jays entered the game just one game below .500 and fresh off a sweep of the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Gausman's Rough Outing
Starter Kevin Gausman, who had been coming off one of his best starts of the season against the New York Yankees, struggled mightily. He lasted only two innings, walking four batters and surrendering seven earned runs. The right-hander walked the first two batters he faced, and after retiring Michael Busch on a grounder that advanced the runners, outfielder Jesus Sanchez had difficulty fielding a pop fly down the right-field line. The ball bounced off Sanchez's glove and the wall, allowing two runs to score. It was the worst start of Gausman's season.
Bullpen Impact
The early exit forced the bullpen to cover 4 2/3 innings, with five regular relievers and even outfielder Myles Straw (who recorded four outs) taking the mound. The overworked bullpen could have lasting effects on the remainder of the series. Scheduled Saturday starter Patrick Corbin will be asked to go deep into the game to give the bullpen a chance to recover.
Bieber and Garcia Updates
On a positive note, veteran right-hander Shane Bieber is expected to make his 2026 Blue Jays debut on Monday against the Houston Astros, barring any issues in his scheduled side session. However, reliever Yimi Garcia's return has been delayed. After a rehab appearance on short rest, his velocity was down and he experienced soreness, so he will have at least one more rehab outing with triple-A Buffalo.
Guerrero Jr.'s Back Issue
Slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who hit a home run in Boston on Thursday, appeared to reach for his back after a swing in the sixth inning on Friday. He popped out and was replaced at first base by Charles McAdoo in the bottom of the inning. Guerrero, who has only four home runs this season, sat out a couple of games last weekend with back issues, and those problems appear to have returned.
Little's Tough Return
Brandon Little was recalled to the majors on Friday but had a difficult outing. He gave up four runs on two hits and three walks in one inning, raising his ERA to 27.00. He walked three batters, including one with the bases loaded in the sixth inning. Little had been sent down in April after giving up three homers in five appearances.
Defensive Lapses
Sanchez was also at fault defensively. In the first inning, he failed to catch a fly ball by Seiya Suzuki that resulted in a two-run double. In the seventh, he took a bad route on a ball hit by Justin Dean, leading to a bases-clearing three-run triple. The defensive miscues added to the team's woes.
