Blue Jays eliminated from postseason contention as Orioles sweep doubleheader

Graphic by Provectus Media

BALTIMORE — The Toronto Blue Jays are officially out of time.

The Baltimore Orioles swept Wednesday's doubleheader at Camden Yards, taking both games by 4-2 scores, and the afternoon loss eliminated Toronto from postseason contention — one year after the Blue Jays won the American League pennant.

The opener was a duel of former teammates. Baltimore's Chris Bassitt, facing the club he pitched for in 2025, scattered seven hits across five innings and allowed two runs to earn his ninth win of the season. Toronto's Max Scherzer absorbed the loss, giving up four runs on four hits and three walks over five innings while striking out seven.

Pete Alonso supplied the big blow for Baltimore, launching his 41st home run of the season — a two-run shot — as the Orioles built an early lead they never gave back. Toronto managed 10 hits in the opener but went 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position, a fitting snapshot of a season spent stranding baserunners.

The nightcap brought more of the same. Rookie Trey Gibson carved up the Jays for 6 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits with seven strikeouts to earn the win. Christian Encarnacion-Strand drove in three runs, including a solo homer, while Davis Schneider's two-run shot in the ninth accounted for all of Toronto's offence. Rookie CJ Van Eyk took the loss, surrendering four runs on four hits over five innings.

With the two defeats, Toronto is assured of a losing season — a stunning fall for a club that took the World Series to Game 7 last November.

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