TORONTO — Toronto’s struggling offence is beginning to weigh on Kevin Gausman and the Blue Jays’ other starting pitchers.
Will Brennan’s solo home run in the fourth inning helped the Cleveland Guardians to a 3-1 win over Toronto on Friday. Gausman said there’s mounting pressure on the Blue Jays starters as Toronto’s offence continues to sputter.
“As much as you try to block it out it’s really hard to,” said Gausman. “I mean, the reality is, if we don’t pitch well we probably lose.”
Gausman (5-5) struck out six over 5 1/3 innings, but allowed three runs on eight hits to take the loss. Genesis Cabrera, Brendon Little and Zach Pop of Brampton, Ont., came out of Toronto’s bullpen.
Davis Schneider’s RBI single in the sixth was all the offence Toronto (33-36) could muster. The Blue Jays have scored 266 runs this season, tied with the St. Louis Cardinals for fourth fewest in Major League Baseball. Their -37 run differential is the sixth worst MLB.
“Offensively, we’re struggling and so defensively, as pitchers, we need to be better. We almost have to be perfect,” said Gausman. “It’s tough, it adds some pressure.
“We’re in the big leagues. You feel pressure every single day, every game is pressure. It doesn’t add any more to it but that’s just the reality of the situation we’re in.”
