Overview
- The Red Sox beat the Blue Jays 7-0 on Thursday when rookie Payton Tolle threw eight innings, allowed two hits, walked two, struck out four and retired his last 17 batters to end a five-game losing streak.
- Caleb Durbin delivered an eighth-inning grand slam that broke the game open and Max Scherzer reached 3,000 career innings in a start for Toronto that offered little offensive support.
- Manager Chad Tracy confirmed reliever Garrett Whitlock had elbow inflammation and Boston’s recent bullpen mix of overuse and mid‑inning failures remains a clear vulnerability.
- Toronto still won the four-game series 3-1 and sits two games behind the Rangers for the final American League wild-card spot, keeping the race tight for both clubs.
- Other recent signs of late‑inning fragility across MLB include Detroit’s rare shutout without a single strikeout and Edwin Díaz’s blown ninth-inning save, which together highlight why teams are seeking reliable starters and fresh bullpen depth after the trade deadline.