Blue Jays claim second consecutive series’ win

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The Blue Jays are not going to make that buyers or sellers decision at the trade deadline any easier for its management group.

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For the second set in a row — and with one remaining before the all-star break — the Jays earned a series victory, taking the rubber match in San Francisco with a 5-3 victory on Thursday.

The Jays will finish off the pre-all-star portion of the schedule with three games in Arizona beginning on Friday.

Kevin Gausman, who was solid in a 2-1 loss in Seattle to start the trip, gave the Jays seven strong innings to head into the break with a 7-8 won-lost record.

He allowed just two runs, both coming on a Heliot Ramos home run in the first inning, before settling down to blank the Giants through the next six innings on six hits and no walks.

Gausman followed up the promising start against the M’s with the same kind of improved velocity on both his fastball and his splitter that got him back in a groove, only this time it was enough to get the win.

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Danny Jansen and Spencer Horwitz both homered in this one. Horwitz’s fourth-inning blast cleared the bleachers in right before the ball splashed into McCovey Cove off a bounce. He also double in the first inning.

Toronto did all of its damage against San Francisco starter and loser Jordan Hicks, a reliever who is transitioning to the rotation this year.

Hicks gave up all five Jays runs in his 4.1 innings, allowing eight hits and walking one.

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

Varsho’s was just a bruise and he was apparently able to pinch-hit Thursday had he been needed.

Bichette is dealing with a fascia strain of his right calf, the same injury that landed him on the injured list last month, and the team will take another day to see if he’ll require another IL stint.

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NO BO BUT THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE NEWS

The more potentially newsworthy story regarding Bichette was a pre-game interview Wednesday night in San Francisco with a local broadcaster.

In fairness, Bichette didn’t necessarily come out and say San Francisco was on his wish list should the Jays be looking to trade him before the July 31 deadline. The actual question seemed to be whether San Francisco was a desirable city in general for players in the majors. Bichette’s reply could be construed a number of ways.

“I haven’t really explored the city much,” Bichette said. “For me, first and foremost, I want to win. That would be the No. 1 priority for me if I was choosing a team, and the Giants are obviously committed to that.

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

With just a year left on his deal after this season and no sign of an extension in the works, Bichette could very well be on the move as soon as the upcoming trade deadline. Toronto’s current struggles, the past two series notwithstanding, only make that more likely.

But to be fair to Bichette, the key part of his quote would be: “if I was choosing a team.”

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PAVING THE WAY TO SELL

Kevin Kiermaier may wind up being another casualty of the Jays lack of success this year.

A team that has already DFA’d veterans Cavan Biggio and Tim Mayza, have reportedly put the veteran outfielder on revocable waivers according to the New York Post.

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

It’s unlikely a team would claim Kiermaier. But if he’s not claimed, it opens the door to an outright release. Of course, he could always be part of a trade dump at the deadline, too.

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

Kiermaier began the day hitting .183 but had a pretty decent afternoon with a couple of singles and his normally steady play in centre field, including a highlight grab of a sinking liner in aid of Gausman.

As for Mayza, he signed a minor-league deal with the Yankees and could wind up facing Toronto later in the year with the way that the New Yorkers’ bullpen is going.

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