No excuses left for Blue Jays as favourable 10-game homestand awaits

Visiting Astros, Rangers and Mets were a combined 18 games under .500 heading into action on Sunday

Published Jun 21, 2026  •  4 minute read

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays walks off after flying out during the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday, June 19, 2026, in Chicago. Photo by Geoff Stellfox /Getty Images

Mother Nature wreaked havoc on Father’s Day, leading to the postponement of the series rubber match between the Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs.

Article content

As a result, the Jays will return to Chicago’s North Side on Aug. 6.

Article content

Article content

On one hand, the Jays can use Sunday’s unscheduled off day. On the other hand, being forced to play on Aug. 6 means the Jays will have to deal with their second stretch of the season of playing 17 games in 17 days.

The re-scheduled game at Wrigley Field falls between the series finale in Houston and the series opener in Philadelphia.

The club’s first such stretch of 17 games in 17 days saw the Jays go 10-7, which could have been better had the bullpen done its job in Baltimore in the final two games of the series.

If you recall, the Jays began their hectic schedule riding high after Daulton Varsho hit a grand slam in the 10th inning to give the Jays a 5-3 win over the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on May 13, a moment many thought would help propel the club to better times following weeks of underperformance.

Louis Varland of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after the final out of his team’s 8-6 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on June 20, 2026 in Chicago. Photo by Sage Zipeto /Getty Images

Momentum swing after rough start at Wrigley

Oddly enough, Varsho was activated in Chicago this weekend and hit a momentum-swinging three-run home run Saturday before Kazuma Okamoto went deep with his own three-run dinger en route to an 8-6 comeback win over the Cubs, who led 5-0 and demolished the visitors 16-2 in Friday’s series opener.

Article content

Article content

Because the AL is so bad, the Jays are very much in the hunt for the wild card. Eventually, some kind of extended win streak must be forged.

Twice, the club has won four in a row, the most recent playing out last month when the Jays took the final two games at home versus Miami before winning the first two games in Baltimore.

With the Jays back home, weather won’t play a factor. The biggest factor involves the club’s actual play.

Beginning Monday when the Houston Astros come to town, the Jays will play three opponents whose combined record is 18 games under .500.

When Texas provides the opposition on Thursday, it will mark the official midway point for the Jays, a time when many failing grades will be handed out beginning with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

When the New York Mets come to town June 29 for a three-game set, it will mark the official return of Bo Bichette.

Once the Mets leave town, the Jays get to enjoy an off day on July 2 before a nine-game West Coast trip that will take them into the all-star break.

Article content

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

Winning homestand sorely needed

The Jays have spent one day at .500 since April 4, when they sported a 29-29 record on May 29, but remember they began the season by sweeping the visiting Athletics in a three-game series. The club now enters its longest homestand of the season at 38-39.

Nothing is assured and no opponent, regardless of record, is taken for granted, but for this season to fully take shape no less than an 8-2 record must be recorded in the coming 10 days. A 7-3 mark will be tolerated, but anything less and alarm bells will be sounded.

This notion that the season is still early no longer merits discussion.

Credit the Jays for rebounding from Friday’s embarrassment, especially knowing all looked lost in Chicago Saturday in the top of the seventh inning.

John Schneider, whose managerial chops have been come under increasing scrutiny, made the right call in tightening up the club’s outfield by having Varsho in centre, Myles Straw in left and Nathan Lukes in right, each producing key plays in the field.

Article content

Straw drew a leadoff walk in the seventh that seemed to go under the radar despite the eventual effect it had.

Okamoto provided the game-winning swing, while Louis Varland, by far the club’s breakout star, earned a six-out save.

Kevin Gausman of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during the first inning of a disastrous start against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on June 19, 2026, in Chicago. Photo by Geoff Stellfox /Getty Images

Starters’ struggles taxing bullpen

Once again, momentum has been established. Once again, the Jays have to parlay that momentum into a win streak.

The club’s home dominance last season was the reason why the Jays won the AL East, including their historic four-game sweep of the Yankees capped off by a 12-5 win on Canada Day that earned Toronto its tiebreaker

Regaining that home advantage is now crucial, especially knowing what the immediate schedule looks like and knowing the Jays have gone 21-18 at home.

Any potential win streak must involved better pitching from the Jays’ starters.

Between Kevin Gausman and Patrick Corbin, not even six complete innings were provided by a starter in the Chicago series. The bullpen has been overburdened.

Article content

Lazaro Estrada did as well as possible in his return Saturday, giving up one hit in 2 1/3 innings, a two-run blast. Jeff Hoffman pitched a scoreless inning, while Mason Fluharty surrendered two hits and issued one walk in facing the minimum.

Asked about his relievers post-game, Schneider acknowledged the obvious: “We’re asking a ton of them and they’re responding.”

Time is now for the entire club to respond. They say there’s no time like the present, but it carries more significance as a very important homestand begins.

[email protected]

Read More

1. 

   Minor league baseball team forfeits game after players refuse to wear Pride Night jerseys
2. 

   Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ends homer drought as Blue Jays sweep Red Sox at Fenway

Article content