Poor fielding and hitting undoing Blue Jays’ playoff push after MLB all-star break

“We’ve got so many good defenders that when stuff like that happens, you’re definitely surprised,” said Schneider. “Yandy hit it hard but Daulton will be the first one to tell you that if you get your glove on it, you’ve got to catch it.

“I think he maybe just took his eye off it for a split second, and, yeah, they took advantage of that.”

Sharp fielding was one of Toronto’s hallmarks in their run to the World Series last season, as was good hitting, but both have flatlined.

The Blue Jays (46-56) needed to string together some wins coming out of the all-star break to stay competitive in the American League’s playoff race. Instead, they have lost five of six, getting outscored 38-10, and have fallen to 6 1/2 games out of a wild-card berth.

Their 402 runs are the fewest in all of Major League Baseball this year, a sharp decline from 2025 when they finished the regular season with the fourth-best offence.

“It’s been a tough stretch for sure, collectively up and down,” said Schneider. “But hopefully, you make adjustments.

“I think guys are grinding, guys are pressing. You combine that with (Tampa’s) good pitching, and that’s that’s kind of where we’re at.”

Shane Bieber (1-1) takes the mound Thursday as Toronto tries to avoid a four-game sweep at the hands of the Rays.

Ian Seymour (6-2) gets the start for the Rays.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2026.

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Poor fielding and hitting undoing Blue Jays’ playoff push after MLB all-star break

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