Blue Jays Get 20 Hits to Crush Angels 14-1 and Secure Fifth Series Win of 2026

The Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Angels are facing off for the second time in 2026 this weekend. When they last played each other on April 20th-22nd, the Jays took the series 2-1. After Saturday’s win and Dylan Cease taking the 2-0 win on Friday, Toronto takes the series again. On Saturday, Trey Yesavage started for the third time since his injury, and Addison Barger played for the first time since he sprained both of his ankles about a month ago. Now, he’s back with no restrictions, per manager John Schneider. For a team that’s had the worst luck with injuries, having one of their best hitters return should boost the Blue Jays’ mood. Both teams were looking to improve their losing records, with the Jays at 17-21 and the Angels at 15-24.

Yesavage started off the game with three consecutive strikeouts, while Jack Kochanowicz’s defense got a quick three to respond. The second began slightly more exciting with Jorge Soler’s double and a single from Yoán Moncada. Still, Toronto’s rookie’s fourth strikeout and a phenomenal outfield double play from Barger kept the game scoreless. The bottom of the second went similarly for Toronto with a couple of promising base hits, but ultimately no runs scored. Yesavage gave up a couple more base runners in the third, but got himself out of it with two more strikeouts and more help from Barger. The same pattern continued at the bottom of the inning as well. The Angels got closer to scoring in the fourth by loading the bases, but a routine double play saved the Jays’ starter once again. The fourth continued with Toronto swiftly loading the bases before Andrés Giménez hit an RBI on a sacrifice flyout. However, a couple more popouts kept the game 1-0 Blue Jays.

Mason Fluharty only threw 12 pitches in the fifth, which included two strikeouts and a groundout. Toronto carried that momentum into the bottom when some errors and miscommunication from the Angels allowed them to make it 5-0 and remove Kochanowicz from the game. That still didn’t stop them, however, as a three-run homer courtesy of rookie catcher Brandon Valenzuela made it 8-0. Braydon Fisher then preserved his team’s lead with a three-up, three-down inning of his own to start the sixth. Next, Joe Mantiply continued the runnerless streak for the Blue Jays relievers, and a homerun from Ernie Clement in the seventh brought the score to 9-0. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also hit an RBI that inning to make it 10-0. The Angels got their first run in the eighth off of Tyler Rogers. In the bottom, Los Angeles put position player Adam Frazier on the mound to save the rest of their bullpen, but Toronto still got four more runs to make it 14-1. Tommy Nance closed out the game to get his team their second win in a row for an 18-21 record.

Yesavage Might Not Be 100%, but He’s Still Got It

While the rookie pitcher started off the game with a three-up, three-down inning and had four scoreless innings overall, the 87 pitches it took to get there prove it wasn’t easy. The 22-year-old added a strikeout to his total in the second, but had to be saved by Barger’s assist from the outfield after a double and a single got runners to first and third. The third inning started rough as well when a walk and a bunt gave the Angels two more base runners, but Yesavage locked in to get two strikeouts before a fly out saved him again. In the fourth, the righty hit a batter and gave up a single and a walk, but one more double play brought his ERA for the year to 0.68. With six strikeouts, four hits, and two walks, Yesavage might be shaky, but at least he didn’t hurt the Blue Jays today. This was only his sixth regular-season start in the MLB, and he persevered. He never let the pressure get to him and showed exactly why he had more post-season starts than regular-season starts in 2025. At just 22, he can keep his cool better than players with years more experience than him. So while Yesavage may have looked rusty if you were watching the game, he still holds as much potential as he did while historically making his way from Low-A to the Majors last season.

Barger is Back, and He’s Just What His Team Needed

Freshly off the IL, the 26-year-old started the game with a 101.2 mph throw from right field to home plate for a double play. The throw was recorded as the fastest outfield assist by a Blue Jay since at least 2015. While he was honored with the second spot in Toronto’s lineup, his hitting didn’t start as exciting, with a lineout to shortstop. His next two at-bats were walks, however, and the second even led to him scoring the Jays' second run. That even started a rally to end the fifth inning with a score of 8-0. Though he got up again that inning, he only grounded out. Barger’s stats may not have been his best this game, but his presence was worth as much as his skill in this situation. The Blue Jays manager has said he believes the players still standing often try to take on too much to compensate for their missing teammates, and it ultimately hurts their game. When key players, like the 26-year-old, are back in the dugout, the lineup can take a deep breath. Routines are so important to athletes, and with another piece back in its place, the Toronto Blue Jays are looking more like the team that went to game seven of the World Series last year.

How Did Clement Free Himself From His Slump?

Toronto’s second baseman had his first five-hit game on Saturday, which included four singles, two RBIs, and his second home run of 2026. After a frustrating six-for-41 slump, Clement was an integral part of his team’s 14-1 win. Going five-for-five took his batting average from .275 to .299. The 30-year-old had been seen using his teammates' bats, desperate for something to work. Once, his own 2025 World Series Game Seven bat that was sitting in his trunk got him his first home run of the year, but even that wasn’t enough as his slump continued for seven more games. The slump even affected his fielding as the infielder was seen making wild throws and bobbling routine plays. All of these habits point to the slump being mental instead of physical. So what was different today? Clement and Barger have always been close, and perhaps having one of his best friends back in the lineup was the support the 30-year-old needed. The atmosphere was buzzing for the Jays, and clearly, everyone was benefiting. Hopefully, this is the start of Toronto reclaiming its identity as one of the best teams in the MLB.