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Will the Blue Jays be able to replicate their success in September after a memorable August?
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    Will the Blue Jays be able to replicate their success in September after a memorable August?

    As the calendar turns to September, it might be worth it for the Toronto Blue Jays to hold a small ceremony of gratitude for the month of August.

    After all, their 16-12 record during the 31 days just completed represent their best month of the season.

    What was supposed to be a month of letting the kids play out the string has turned into a wildly entertaining stretch of baseball for the Blue Jays, capped nicely by a franchise record-tying 15-0 shutout win in Minnesota on Saturday.

    Who knew that trading all those regulars — Yimi Garcia, Nate Pearson, Danny Jansen, Justin Turner, Yusei Kikuchi — before the July 30 deadline would look like this?

    Sunday’s rubber match (2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+) at Target Field will present a more difficult challenge than Saturday’s 23-hit effort against rookie Twins starter Zebby Matthews.

    Expected Minnesota starter Bailey Ober might be coming off a rough one the last time out (seven hits in just two innings of work against Atlanta), but he’s still 12-6 this season with a WHIP of 1.03.

    The Blue Jays are expected to counter with Yariel Rodriguez (1-6, 4.82 ERA), who has two losses and three no-decisions in his last five outings.

    As for the rest of the Blue Jays, outfielder Daulton Varsho is reportedly dealing with a right shoulder issue and could be rested, what with Monday’s off-day offering a chance for a two-day respite.

    The club made a pair of moves to bolster the roster on Sunday, recalling infielder Luis De Los Santos and left-handed pitcher Brandon Eisert from triple-A Buffalo. Both will be available for the game, with Major League rosters expanding from 26 to 28 players.

    One player who does not appear to need any time off is rookie Will Wagner. The key piece in the trade that sent Kikuchi to Houston, Wagner is batting .357 in 16 games since making his MLB debut on Aug. 12. The 26-year-old son of legendary Houston Astros pitcher Billy Wagner capped off his first month of major-league ball with a five-hit game on Saturday, becoming the first rookie in franchise history to achieve the feat. 

    It’s safe to say that the Blue Jays will be looking for more of that on Sunday in order to leave town with the series victory.

    — With files from David Singh, Sportsnet

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    After a memorable August that saw the Toronto Blue Jays go on a hot streak and climb up the standings in the American League East, many fans are wondering if the team will be able to replicate their success in September.

    The Blue Jays went 21-9 in August, their best month of the season so far, and are currently sitting in a wild card spot in the AL. The team’s offense was firing on all cylinders, with key players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and Teoscar Hernandez all having standout performances. The pitching staff also stepped up, with Robbie Ray having a dominant month and Alek Manoah making a strong impact as a rookie.

    However, replicating that success in September will not be easy. The Blue Jays will face tough competition down the stretch, including series against division rivals like the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. They will also have to navigate a grueling schedule that includes several doubleheaders and road trips.

    Injuries could also be a factor in the team’s success. Key players like George Springer and Hyun Jin Ryu have missed time this season due to injuries, and their health will be crucial to the team’s chances of making a playoff push.

    That being said, the Blue Jays have shown that they have the talent and resilience to compete with the best teams in the league. If they can continue to get production from their star players and stay healthy, there is no reason why they can’t replicate their success in September and make a run at the playoffs. Fans will be eagerly watching to see if the Blue Jays can continue their hot streak and secure a spot in the postseason.