It's been 18 days since the Toronto Blue Jays played on a non-Olympic day and not a lot has changed in the American League East standings.
The Blue Jays sit tied with Boston atop the division at 70-54 entering Tuesday night's series opener against the visiting Los Angeles Angels and two games up on Baltimore (68-56), which was tied for first with Toronto (technically one percentage point ahead) at the start of the Rio Olympics on Aug. 5.
After three games versus the Angels, the Blue Jays welcome the AL-worst Minnesota Twins for three contests this weekend before embarking on a nine-day, 10-game trip against division rivals Baltimore, Tampa Bay and New York Yankees.
For those with Olympic fever the past two weeks, here's a Blue Jays refresher as they prepare for the stretch drive in their quest for a second consecutive post-season berth.
In Cy Young mix
The J.A. Happ that sported a 4.39 earned-run average for Toronto from 2012-14 and was overlooked for this year's all-star game has put himself in the conversation for the Cy Young Award as the top pitcher in the American League.
The left-hander earned two wins during the Olympics to give him 17, tied with Boston's Rick Porcello for tops in the major leagues this season, and has an impressive 3.05 earned-run average and 133 strikeouts in 150 1/3 innings on the season.
Revamped bullpen
After some late-inning struggles to start the season, the Blue Jays' bullpen has sorted itself out, thanks largely to the arrival of 39-year-old veterans Jason Grilli and Joaquin Benoit via trade. Benoit has yet to allow a run in 11 games with Toronto and has improved his control from earlier in the season with Seattle. Grilli has settled in as the primary eighth-inning set-up man, posting a 1.57 ERA in 30 appearances with the Jays after pitching to a 5.29 ERA in his first 21 games of the season with Atlanta.
Travis takes off as leadoff man
Back in February, while recovering from a shoulder injury that cut short his 2015 season, second baseman Devon Travis talked about his hopes of hitting atop the Toronto lineup this season. Well, after Kevin Pillar, Jose Bautista, and Ezequiel Carrera failed to stick, Travis was inserted into the leadoff role on Aug. 3 and he hasn't looked back. The second-year major leaguer boasts a .311 batting average with four homers and 13 RBIs in 103 at-bats in the leadoff position.
Supplemental offence
Catcher Russell Martin and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki quickly answered the call when Jose Bautista and Kevin Pillar went on the disabled list in a three-day span earlier this month. Martin has hits in seven of 12 games played since Aug. 5 with seven of his 14 home runs this season coming this month during which he's hitting .279 with a .353 on-base percentage.
Tulowitzki has hit better each month this season and in August has demonstrated the type of offence fans in Colorado were used to for years with a .333 average, .410 OBP, three homers and 11 RBIs.
Bautista, Pillar near return from DL
It appears as though outfielders Jose Bautista and Kevin Pillar won't require more than 15 days on the disabled list and should return to the lineup this week. Pillar reportedly will be back Tuesday from a sprained ligament in his left thumb suffered while sliding head-first into second base on a stolen base attempt in a Aug. 6 game against Kansas City.
Bautista could return later this week from a sprained left knee sustained Aug. 9 in Toronto while attempting to make a throw from right field versus Tampa Bay. He missed 30 games in June and July with a hyper-extended right big toe.
Sanchez sent packing, for now
Fans awoke Sunday to the surprising news that Aaron Sanchez – considered the team's best starting pitcher this season – was optioned to class-A Dunedin. The move was made to limit the 24-year-old's innings, which sit at a career-high 156 1/3. Sanchez will remain in Florida and likely not pitch until his next scheduled start Aug. 31 at Baltimore. Sanchez has 12 wins this season and his 2.99 ERA is fifth-best in the American League.
Olympic fever subsides, Blue Jays flu imminent: What you need to know about the stretch run
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