I'm always amused by the talking point that a day off—or in this case, four of them—can come at a "good" or "bad" time. Depending on your point of view, the time off either halts momentum or creates it.
Winning teams want to keep rolling, losing teams want a break.
By that logic, the Blue Jays must have been dreading the All-Star break. They won eight in a row to start this month and have been one of baseball's hottest teams.
The Giants have been characteristically up and down, but lost three of four heading into the break. Great time for a rest, huh?
Two games in, it looks as if neither team took a break.
The Jays have cruised by the Giants with a pair of four-run innings. The Giants have scored only three times in 18 innings, striking out 20 times and failing to draw a single walk. They're also hitless in 10 at-bats with runners in scoring position.
If you thought four days off could transform a team into a new version of itself, it's apparently not that simple.
Up next: Former Blue Jay Robbie Ray (9-3, 2.65 ERA) faces Jose Berríos (5-4, 3.75 ERA) as the Giants try to avoid the sweep. First pitch at 9:05 am.
Guardians lost 10 in a row, capped by a 1-0 lead in 9th; Clase gives up tying run; loses 7-2 in 10 to Tigers. Limped into Houston: Swept Astros, who had the best record in baseball since June 1.