Blue Jays unable to bust out of RISP slump

Coming off four days without a game over the weekend, Blue Jays hitters knew timing might be an issue. They were talking about their swings, but timing has become a larger issue for the lineup as a whole.

Entering Tuesday’s series opener against the Braves, the Blue Jays were near the bottom of the Major Leagues in hitting with runners in scoring position with a batting average of .205 and an OPS of .618, both ranking them 27th. Things didn’t get much better in a 10-1 loss to Atlanta at Truist Park, as Toronto went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

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“I don’t know what it is. I know we’re having good at-bats,” manager Charlie Montoyo said. “We’re just not scoring runs and not doing really well with runners in scoring position. Hopefully, that changes pretty soon.”

It’s a harsh sample size to pull from after so few games, but in a shortened season, small samples carry plenty of weight. Montoyo and several hitters, including Bo Bichette, believe the Blue Jays have played better than their record, but all have pointed to this one specific issue.

“We definitely had opportunities as an offense to put games away that we didn’t,” Bichette said over the weekend, “so we need to continue to make sure we’re doing our best with runners in scoring position and taking advantage of opportunities.”

The Blue Jays’ best chance on Tuesday came in the top of the fifth, when they were still down just 2-0. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a leadoff double down the third-base line before Randal Grichuk worked a nine-pitch walk with a strong plate appearance, but the next two hitters couldn’t move them. Both Danny Jansen and Brandon Drury flared looping liners to first baseman Freddie Freeman with exit velocities of 43.5 mph and 44.1 mph, respectively.

“Somehow, we’ve just got to think like there’s nobody on,” Montoyo said. “Same approach. They’re probably being too aggressive with men on base.”

Guerrero was finally driven home when Anthony Alford ripped a ground ball off the glove of third baseman Austin Riley and into left field, but the Blue Jays weren’t able to break open the big inning that they needed. In the bottom half, Atlanta scored four runs to put the game out of reach.

If any part of the lineup will kick-start Toronto in clutch situations, it will come from the top. Montoyo made the move prior to the game to insert Teoscar Hernández as the No. 3 hitter, with Bichette and Cavan Biggio in front of him. A hamstring injury kept Bichette out for three games, but the star shortstop hasn’t walked in the five games he’s been in the lineup. As the Blue Jays saw vs. Tampa Bay in their opening series, this lineup is capable of stringing hits together, but it requires a consistent plate approach where nobody is pushing outside of their comfort zone.

Starter Matt Shoemaker wasn’t as sharp as we’ve seen him in Toronto, but he was making his first appearance since the second game of the season on July 25. The right-hander allowed six runs on six hits, including three home runs, over 4 2/3 innings.

“It was frustrating to say the least,” Shoemaker said. “That’s the best way to put it. I’m definitely not happy about it. I’m still pretty fired up still, but tomorrow’s a new day. I hate to say this, because I don’t want it to sound like an excuse, but it’s hard to do that with 10 days’ rest. Pitching is about timing, about rhythm, about feel. When you have 10 days off, it sucks, but you can’t control those things. You’ve got to control what you can control. I’ve got to man up and make better pitches.”