The Toronto Blue Jays have been eliminated from post-season contention after a 2-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins in Game 2 of their American League wild-card series.
The game turned in the fourth inning when the Blue Jays lifted starter Jose Berrios — who had five strikeouts in the first three frames — despite the 0-0 score at the time. Left-handed starter Yusei Kikuchi came in to disrupt a stretch of left-handed Twins hitters, but he walked the bases loaded, opening the door for Minnesota to score the only two runs of the game.
The Twins won Game 1 by a score of 3-1 to record their first playoff win since 2004. Minnesota will now face the Houston Astros in the American League Division Series. The other series will see the Baltimore Orioles face the Texas Rangers.
The Blue Jays now enter an off-season where significant roster change was already expected before this latest disappointing playoff exit. Matt Chapman, Kevin Kiermaier, Whit Merrifield and Hyun Jin Ryu are just some of the unrestricted free agents on the roster who will need to be replaced or re-signed.
