Despite wobbles in Sacramento, Blue Jays in first at All-Star break for sixth time in franchise history

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First things first, as the Blue Jays impressively reached the All-Star break in what as recently as two months ago seemed like an unlikely spot: Leading the American League East.

Yes, they’ve wobbled some on their way to the four-day break, falling 6-3 to the Athletics on Sunday in Sacramento for their second loss in a row and third in the past four.

And yes, with a record of 55-41, the Jays have indeed won more games at the break than any other point in club history. Before getting carried away with that rosy narrative making noise, though, note that the 2025 Jays needed nine more games to get to that total than the 1992 team, which was 53-24 back when the Midsummer Classic came closer to the middle of a season.

But all things considered, it’s been quite a run for a Jays team that will scatter from the temporary home of the Athletics with a two-game lead over the defending division champion Yankees. With a 3-3 record on the now completed road trip, however, the Jays allowed the suddenly surging Boston Red Sox – now winners of 10 in a row – to get within three games of the lead.

That said, manager John Schneider will gladly take where his team is today and do so with a worthy exhale after a truly impressive run that doesn’t require false narratives to celebrate.

After he cools down, that is.

Schneider was ejected in the fifth inning after a spectacular showdown with the entire umpiring crew in protest of a Davis Schneider bomb to left field that was ruled as foul in the shoddy, minor league venue that is Sutter Health Park.

That bit of ill temper aside, Schneider the manager has plenty to like about a squad that has galvanized in the clubhouse and performing leaps and bounds better than last year’s version.

It’s just the sixth time in franchise history that they’ve been in first come All-Star time and the first since way back in 1993. The team has played well over the past two months to reach that lofty position atop the AL East, a division it hasn’t won since 2015.

The break probably comes at a good time, however, for a team that could use the rest, especially on the pitching side. They certainly showed it in California, after the red-hot streak from earlier in the month chilled somewhat.

Sunday’s starter, Jose Berrios, looked weary and Kevin Gausman, who took the loss on Saturday, acknowledged that the respite would be important for him to reset and ideally be as effective as he was in the closing months of the 2024 season.

The rest of the rotation could say the same, given the earlier injury issues for Max Scherzer and the struggles of Bowden Francis left them short-handed.

The good news overall, is that prior to the latest hiccup, the Jays had reeled off a 10-game winning streak to zoom to the top of the division.

What comes next matters most. But a team doesn’t get to 14 games above .500 at this point in the season by accident. A worst-to-first season is no guarantee, but it’s suddenly a realistic target for a team that is playing hard for each other.

BERRIOS BLIP

Prior to Sunday, Berrios was money against the A’s as a starter going 4-0 in his six starts with a skimpy 2.15 ERA.

On Sunday though, the righty looked weary and unsettled and was given the hook by Schneider after three innings. Berrios allowed a pair of two-run homers – to Austin Wynns in the second and Tyler Soderstrom in the next inning. Rather than have Berrios work through whatever was off – on five hits and four homers – Schneider opted to give his workhorse starter the rest of the afternoon off.

That led to a parade of relievers entering the contest, including starter Chris Bassitt, who worked one scoreless inning on Sunday.

SACRAMENTO LAMBS

Playing in the minor league home of the Athletics was never going to be an easy task. the Jays’ second trip to a steamy minor league stadium for a three-game series this season.

After going 0-3 to the Rays in Tampa earlier, they dropped two of three to the Athletics, it snapped a streak of five consecutive series wins – and 11 of their previous 13.

It was a far cry from a four-game sweep at the Rogers Centre earlier in the season when the Jays destroyed the A’s by a cumulative 39-18 margin.

The Jays offence on Sunday came late in the game and via the long ball: A solo homer from Davis Schneider in the fifth (Toronto’s first hit of the game) and a two-run shot via the bat of Addison Barger in the seventh.

Of note, Barger’s 13th homer of the season is second-most on the team, three fewer than leader George Springer and one more than Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette.