2023 UEFA Champions League draw analysis: Winners, losers and the Group of Death - Sportsnet.ca

The journey to become crowned the best club in Europe begins next month when the group stage of the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League campaign kicks off.

On Thursday, European soccer’s governing body conducted the group stage draw in Monaco to pool 32 teams across the continent into eight first-round groups.

Here’s a look at the groups.

GROUP A

Bayern Munich (Germany), Manchester United (England), Copenhagen (Denmark), Galatasaray (Turkey)

Marquee matchup: Manchester United is back in the Champions League after a two-year absence and will be looking forward to going up against its rivals Bayern Munich, whom they’ve clashed with 11 times in this competition. These two teams are the class of Group A, so it’s more than likely that their pair of matches will decide first place.

The big question: Can Canadian Alphonso Davies and Bayern Munich put an end to a disappointing streak of three consecutive quarter-final exits in the Champions League and reassert itself as the dominant force in European club soccer by winning the continental competition for a seventh time?

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GROUP B

Sevilla (Spain), Arsenal (England), PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands), Lens (France)

Marquee matchup: Sevilla and Arsenal both play vibrant and entertaining brands of soccer, so the two matches between the Sevillistas and the Gunners should make for must-see TV. Plus, Mikel Arteta will have a point to prove – despite his success as manager of Arsenal, the Spaniard is still somewhat underappreciated in his native Spain.

The big question: Can seven-time UEFA Cup/Europa League winners Sevilla take the next step in its evolution and win the Champions League after dominating UEFA’s secondary tournament for the past 17 years?

GROUP C

Napoli (Italy), Real Madrid (Spain), Braga (Portugal), Union Berlin (Germany)

Marquee matchup: Real Madrid is unbeaten in four games (with three wins) against Napoli in their previous European Cup/Champions League encounters. But the Italians enter this year’s tournament as the favourites to top Group C after winning Serie A last season, and buoyed by the supreme attacking talents of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen.

The big question: After slowly coming up through the ranks, what kind of impression will Union Berlin make in its debut season in the Champions League after previously competing in the UEFA Conference League and the UEFA Europa League over the past two years?

GROUP D

Benfica (Portugal), Inter Milan (Italy), Salzburg (Austria), Real Sociedad (Spain)

Marquee matchup: Benfica gave Inter Milan a stern challenge in the quarter-finals of last season’s Champions League before succumbing over two legs. The Portuguese outfit won a lot of plaudits for their attacking display in the second match on the series and will be eager to prove they belong among Europe’s elite.

The big question: Will Inter Milan be able to duplicate its magical and surprising run to last year’s Champions League final and win the tournament for the first time since 2010 during its historic treble season?

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GROUP E

Feyenoord (Netherlands), Atlético Madrid (Spain), Lazio (Italy), Celtic (Scotland)

Marquee matchup: Feyenoord beat Celtic in the 1970 European Cup final, but Atlético Madrid vs. Lazio is this group’s most intriguing matchup as it will see manager Diego Simeone facing the Italian team with whom he won a Serie A title, a Coppa Italia and a UEFA Super Cup during his distinguished playing career.

The big question: Will Celtic finally put its underperforming ways in Champions League behind it and advance to the knockout round for the first time since 2012-13?

GROUP F

Paris Saint-Germain (France), Borussia Dortmund (Germany), AC Milan (Italy), Newcastle (England)

Marquee matchup: It has to be AC Milan vs. Newcastle given that the English club paid a reported €70-million transfer fee to the Rossoneri this summer as part of a move that made the sublimely talented midfielder the most expensive Italian player in history.

The big question: How will a star-studded PSG side led by Kylian Mbappe fare in the “Group of Death” now that Lionel Messi is in MLS and Neymar has moved to Saudi club Al Hilal?

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GROUP G

Manchester City (England), Leipzig (Germany), Red Star Belgrade (Serbia), Young Boys (Switzerland)

Marquee matchup: Manchester City vs. Leipzig should be pretty interesting if for no other reason than the Germans made the Premier League side sweat when it earned a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their round-of-16 battle in last season’s Champions League. City responded by posting a 7-0 win in the return match, but Leipzig turned heads and earned the respect of the eventual tournament winners in that first game.

The big question: After a treble-winning season in 2022-23, can Man City become the first team to repeat as Champions League holders since Real Madrid three-peated from 2016 to 2018?

GROUP H

Barcelona (Spain), Porto (Portugal), Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine), Royal Antwerp (Belgium)

Marquee matchup: La Liga champions Barcelona were handed a favourable draw, but the matches against Porto could prove tricky for the Blaugrana. The Portuguese outfit pushed eventual finalists Inter Milan to the brink of elimination in the round-of-16 in last season’s Champions League, so they won’t be intimidated by Barca’s big reputation.

The big question: Will modest Belgian side Royal Antwerp be completely out of its depth during its first Champions League season while competing in a group with three other experienced European campaigners?

John Molinaro is one of the leading soccer journalists in Canada, having covered the game for over 20 years for several media outlets, including Sportsnet, CBC Sports and Sun Media. He is the editor-in-chief of TFC Republic, a website dedicated to in-depth coverage of Toronto FC and Canadian soccer.

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2023-08-31 20:01:00Z
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Jays Shutout On Waiver Claims - Bluebird Banter

The Jays didn’t get anyone off today’s waiver claims extravaganza. Teams can claim as many players on waivers as they like, and Cleveland and Cincinnati used that to remake their teams for the last month. The Guardians are 64-70 but have an outside shot at catching the Twins, who are five games up on them. Fangraphs has them with a 5.5% chance of making the playoffs, but they are going as all-in as they can.

• The Guardians got Matt Moore, Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez
• The Reds got Harrison Bader and Hunter Renfroe.
• The Mariners claimed Dominic Leone.
• No one claimed Randal Grichuk. Grichuk hasn’t been hitting since joining the Angels.

The Guardians have 3 games left with the Rangers, so it is possible this could help the Jays.

We don’t know if the Jays put any claims in.

Five players went to Ohio.

Guardians at 64-70 claimed 3 players (pitchers Giolito, Lopez and Moore). They were in position to do so with the worst record among the contenders. Very likely many teams tried to claim these pitchers,

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 31, 2023

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2023-08-31 17:56:02Z
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Toronto Argos make QB Chad Kelly highest-paid player in CFL with three-year contract worth $1.865 million - 3downnation.com

Photo: Timothy Matwey/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

The Toronto Argonauts have made quarterback Chad Kelly the highest-paid player in the CFL for the next three seasons.

The 29-year-old inked a three-year contract extension which was negotiated by Saskatoon-based, Canadian agent Chris Lambiris. Kelly’s agreement is worth $615,000 in 2024 and $625,000 in hard money for each of the last two years. There are no performance incentives in his pact.

He’s due a $250,000 signing bonus in 2024 but can’t collect it if the six-foot-two, 216-pound QB signs an NFL contract during the December to February window. That means Kelly would need substantial guaranteed money from an NFL team to entertain it as a possibility.

Prior to signing this long-term deal, Kelly had a chance to earn up to $248,000 in 2023 but now he could go up to as high as $330,000 with some of his performance incentives turned into hard money.

The Buffalo native has completed 149-of-213 passes (70 percent) for 2,402 passing yards with 16 passing touchdowns versus seven interceptions in 2023. He has 25 carries for 135 yards and six majors. The Kelly-led Argos’ offence is averaging 29.2 offensive points per game and 380.9 yards of offence per game, both rank second in the CFL.

Originally selected with the final pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Kelly fell in the process due to off-the-field concerns despite a stellar NCAA career at the University of Mississippi. He spent four seasons south of the border with the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts, playing in one game as a backup, earning $1.141 million. He was released by the Colts in September 2020 and waited another year until joining the Argonauts last season.

Kelly started one game in his first CFL season, completing 23-of-35 passes for 264 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the regular-season finale against Montreal, rushing six times for 35 yards and a score. He ran for six touchdowns as the team’s primary short-yardage quarterback in 2022.

Despite spending the year in mostly a backup role, Kelly became the biggest story of the 109th Grey Cup after starter McLeod Bethel-Thompson suffered a dislocated thumb in the fourth quarter. He completed 4-of-6 passes for 43 yards in relief and set up the game-winning touchdown with a memorable 20-yard scramble on second-and-15 to help upset the two-time defending champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers 24-23.

The Argos (8-1) are scheduled to return to action on Monday, September 4 when they take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (4-6) in the Labour Day Classic.

Justin Dunk is a football insider, sports reporter and anchor.

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2023-08-31 17:44:06Z
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Argonauts, quarterback Chad Kelly agree to three-year extension - Sportsnet.ca

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2023-08-31 12:30:00Z
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More swag: QB Chad Kelly signs three-year contract extension with Toronto Argos - 3downnation.com

Photo: Matt Johnson/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

The Toronto Argonauts have signed quarterback Chad Kelly to a three-year contract extension through the 2026 season.

During his first year as a QB1 in the CFL, Kelly is playing at a Most Outstanding Player-type level and had led the Argos to an 8-1 record. He has the highest quarterback rating in the league (118.7), best touchdown to interception ratio (2.29), most rushing touchdowns in the league (six), the highest percentage of drives that result in touchdowns (26.5), and percentage of completed passes over 20 yards (53.2).

The Buffalo native has completed 149-of-213 passes (70 percent) for 2,402 yards with 16 passing touchdowns versus seven interceptions in 2023. The Kelly-led Argos’ offence is averaging 29.2 offensive points per game and 380.9 yards of offence per game, both of which rank second in the CFL.

“Today marks not only a contract extension, but an extension of my commitment to the amazing city of Toronto, my teammates, coaches, front office and MLSE,” Kelly said in a statement.

“I want to thank each one of you for your unwavering support over the last two years, and I look forward to leading this team to future Grey Cups. I also want to thank the Lord for providing me daily strength to do what I do best, my family for always being there for me throughout this process and the team around me for making this all come together.”

The 29-year-old QB joined the Argos in 2022 and was thrust into action during the fourth quarter of the 109th Grey Cup in November. Kelly completed four-of-six passes for 43 yards and rushed twice for 21 yards, including a 20-yard scramble on second down to set up the Argos’ game-winning touchdown and help Toronto secure its record 18th championship.

“Not only has he played lights-out football but he has seemed to raise the level of opposing quarterbacks we’ve faced. However, the greatest part of this story is what you don’t see. Mr. Kelly has led this team from the offseason back in the winter to a team that’s become a consistent winner,” general manager Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons said in a statement.

“A competent voice, a leader by example, he’s raised the level of his peers and prioritized the team amidst his all-star stats! He arrives early and stays late — phenomenal. On top of all that, Chad is, and will continue to be, a pillar for us in the team’s commitment to the community and youth football development in Toronto.”

The second-year CFL passer was an offensive assistant coach at East Mississippi Community College in 2021 after NFL stints with the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos from 2017 to 2020.

He was originally selected in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft. After starting his collegiate career at Clemson, Kelly transferred to East Mississippi Community College where he led the Lions to a National Championship before eventually finding a home at The University of Mississippi. He threw for just under 7,000 yards and 50 touchdowns with the Rebels while rushing for 958 yards and 15 more majors in two seasons.

“Chad’s play on the field and leadership off the field make him the perfect fit for us here in Toronto,” head coach Ryan Dinwiddie said in a statement. “You’ve seen what he’s done so far this season and we have no doubt the best is still yet to come with Chad. He is a player who can lead us to where we are trying to go and that is to compete consistently for Grey Cups each year.”

As with all CFL players, Kelly is still eligible to sign an NFL contract during the early portion of the off-season via the league’s NFL window. However, his CFL rights are now exclusively tied to Toronto through February 2027.

The Argos (8-1) are scheduled to visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (4-6) on Monday, Sept. 4 for the annual Labour Day Classic with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EDT.

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2023-08-31 12:20:27Z
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Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe signs multiyear extension - ESPN - ESPN

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  Kristen Shilton, ESPN NHL reporterAug 30, 2023, 01:25 PM ET

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  Kristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are sticking with head coach Sheldon Keefe.

The Maple Leafs announced a multiyear contract extension for their bench boss Wednesday, putting to rest conversation about whether Keefe would remain with Toronto under new general manager Brad Treliving.

Keefe, whose previous deal was set to expire at the end of this coming season, has a 166-71-30 record with Toronto -- his first NHL coaching gig -- and ranks sixth overall in franchise wins.

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The Maple Leafs set single-season franchise records for wins (54) and points (115) under Keefe in 2021-22 and have recorded back-to-back 50-win campaigns.

"Coaching this team has been a great privilege, and I'm truly excited at the opportunity to continue building towards our ultimate goal," Keefe said in a press release. "I'm thankful for the support from MLSE and its ownership along with [team president] Brendan Shanahan and Brad Treliving, who I've really enjoyed getting to know and work with this off-season. We have so many great players and people within our organization that I'm grateful to work with, and together our commitment to team success remains steadfast."

Keeping Keefe is a mark of consistency Toronto likely needed after its early offseason restructuring of the front office that saw former GM Kyle Dubas' contract not renewed. Dubas subsequently joined the Pittsburgh Penguins in May as GM and president of hockey operations.

Dubas promoted Keefe to Toronto's head-coaching job in November 2019, when former coach Mike Babcock was fired. Keefe was coaching Toronto's American Hockey League affiliate at the time -- a role Dubas also brought Keefe to originally in 2015 after the two had previously worked together as GM and coach of the Ontario Hockey League's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds from 2012-15.

The longstanding relationship between Keefe and Dubas -- which included winning a Calder Cup championship in 2018 with the Marlies -- raised questions about whether Keefe's future would be in Toronto following Dubas' departure. Treliving came on board shortly after Dubas wasn't extended, and Treliving said he would evaluate Keefe like every other member of the Leafs' staff before a decision was made on a new deal.

While Keefe has led the Maple Leafs to strong regular-season results, Toronto consistently has fallen short in the playoffs. Since 2019, Toronto has reached the postseason four times but has won only a single first-round series, topping Tampa Bay in six games last spring.

Treliving is backing Keefe with a new commitment.

"Since I've joined the Maple Leafs, I've been very impressed with Sheldon," Treliving said in a press release. "He has shown great leadership skills with his staff and our players, and has a clear vision for this team and where it needs to get to. Sheldon has established himself as one of the top coaches in the league and I look forward to working alongside him as we head into the upcoming season."

This Keefe decision is the second major move Treliving has made since taking the Maple Leafs' reigns last spring. He also inked top center Auston Matthews to a four-year, $53 million contract extension earlier this month.

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2023-08-30 17:25:00Z
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Maple Leafs Sign Head Coach Sheldon Keefe To Multi-Year Extension - NHL.com

Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving announced today that the club has signed Head Coach Sheldon Keefe to a multi-year contract extension.

Keefe, 42, was named the 31st Head Coach in Maple Leafs history on November 20, 2019. Through parts of four seasons with the club (267 regular season games), Keefe has coached the team to a 166-71-30 record to rank him sixth in wins in the franchise's 105-year history. Under Keefe, Toronto has set franchise records for most wins (54) and points (115) during a single season (2021-22) while also recording consecutive 50-win campaigns over their two most recent seasons. Since joining the Maple Leafs, Toronto has posted a .622 winning percentage under Keefe, ranking them only behind the Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes in that span.

"Since I've joined the Maple Leafs, I've been very impressed with Sheldon," said General Manager Brad Treliving. "He has shown great leadership skills with his staff and our players, and has a clear vision for this team and where it needs to get to. Sheldon has established himself as one of the top coaches in the league and I look forward to working alongside him as we head into the upcoming season."

"Coaching this team has been a great privilege, and I'm truly excited at the opportunity to continue building towards our ultimate goal," said Head Coach Sheldon Keefe. "I'm thankful for the support from MLSE and its ownership along with Brendan Shanahan and Brad Treliving, who I've really enjoyed getting to know and work with this off-season. We have so many great players and people within our organization that I'm grateful to work with, and together our commitment to team success remains steadfast."

 

Keefe first joined the Maple Leafs organization as Head Coach of the Toronto Marlies (AHL) in June 2015. In parts of five seasons with the Marlies, Keefe led the club to a 199-89-22-9 record in 319 regular season games. In that span, the Marlies won the franchise's first ever Calder Cup championship in 2018, and they also won the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as AHL regular season champions on two occasions. The team made four consecutive playoff appearances with Keefe at the helm and posted a 38-21 post-season record.

Prior to joining the Marlies, Keefe had a successful three-year stint as head coach of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League. Joining the team as a mid-season coaching replacement in 2012, the Brampton, Ontario native helped lead the Greyhounds back to the playoffs after the team missed the post-season the two previous seasons. In Keefe's two full seasons with Sault Ste. Marie, the Greyhounds posted a regular season record of 98-29-2-7 while reaching the second round (2013-14) and third round (2014-15) of the playoffs.

Keefe entered the coaching and managerial ranks in 2006 as he served as head coach and general manager of the CCHL's Pembroke Lumber Kings for seven seasons (2006-07 to mid-season in 2012-13). Keefe led the Lumber Kings to five-consecutive league championships through his first five season with the club (2007-2011) and went on to capture the National Championship in 2011.

As a player, Keefe suited up for 125 NHL games with the Tampa Bay Lightning after they selected him in the second round (47th overall) of the 1999 NHL Draft. He was named the OHL's Rookie of the Year with the Barrie Colts in 1998-99 before earning the Eddie Powers Trophy as the league's top scorer in 1999-2000.
 

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2023-08-30 16:19:24Z
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Banged-up Blue Jays aim to bounce back vs. Nats - Deadspin

After entering a six-game homestand with high expectations, the best the Toronto Blue Jays can do is to get a split when they face the Washington Nationals on Wednesday afternoon.

Toronto had hoped to gain momentum for a run at an American League wild-card spot in the six games against teams with below .500 records.

Instead, they are 2-3 on the homestand after a 5-4 loss to the Nationals on Tuesday. The teams have split the first two games of the three-game series.

The Blue Jays dropped two of three to the Cleveland Guardians to open the homestand.

The Nationals, meanwhile, assured themselves of a successful nine-game road trip by winning their fifth game win with one left.

Toronto dropped to 3 1/2 games out of the final AL wild-card spot.

Right-hander Chris Bassitt (12-7, 4.00 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Blue Jays on Wednesday. His only two career outings against Washington came last season as a member of the New York Mets, when he went 2-0 and tossed a combined 13 scoreless innings.

Washington is scheduled to start left-hander Patrick Corbin (9-11, 4.70 ERA). He is 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two career starts against Toronto, both outings occurring in 2016.

Toronto added shortstop Bo Bichette (strained right quadriceps) to the injured list on Tuesday, a day after third baseman Matt Chapman (finger) landed on the IL.

Bichette opened the month on the IL with a knee injury. He left the Sunday game due to quad tightness.

"He's frustrated," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. "At the same time, he understands that he doesn't want to do anything that's going to put him out for the season. He took it as well as he could is the best way to say it. He wants to be out there every day, especially at this time of year."

Ernie Clement, recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday, started at shortstop the past two days.

Toronto selected the contract of infielder Mason McCoy on Tuesday. He was acquired from the Seattle Mariners for reliever Trent Thornton in a July 26 trade. McCoy, who has no major league experience, hit .226 with 12 homers and 64 RBIs in 108 Triple-A games this year.

"He's a really, really good defender and great baserunner," Schneider said. "He's kind of another blue-collar dude who's been working his entire career to get here. I'm excited to have him."

Davis Schneider continued his hot hitting since his promotion from Buffalo with a solo homer and an RBI double Tuesday. In his first 13 major league games, he is batting 19-for-45 (.422) with four doubles, six homers and 14 RBIs for the Blue Jays.

Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a first-inning single. He is 13-for-43 (.302) over that stretch.

The Nationals got a three-run homer from catcher Keibert Ruiz and a two-run shot from Carter Kieboom.

It was a special night for Washington center fielder Jacob Young, who bunted for his first major league hit, had his first stolen base and threw out Alejandro Kirk at home for his first assist after catching a fly ball in the eighth.

"There's no one else on base, so you can kind of let it fly," Young said. "You want to give Keibert a chance, and Keibert made a heck of a play."

In making the catch, Young nearly ran into left fielder Alex Call but called him off in time.

"We had that conversation the first day that he got here," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "'You're the center fielder. You control the outfield. You call it. You take everything.'"

—Field Level Media

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2023-08-30 11:35:20Z
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CLOCK'S TICKING: Jays dip further out of playoff picture as comeback falls short - Toronto Sun

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Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz, left, tags out the Toronto Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk during eighth inning MLB action in Toronto on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Photo by Frank Gunn /THE CANADIAN PRESS

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There are times, Kevin Kiermaier admits, that he would love to release his inner linebacker to help alter the troubling direction of the Blue Jays season.

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Such is the frustration of being on a team with much higher expectations than being a middling team slipping out of the post-season picture. Baseball doesn’t work that way, of course, as anger can only lead to more aggravation.

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The Jays are feeling it in heaps now after 5-4 loss to the Washington Nationals on Tuesday at the Rogers Centre, a defeat that punted them further away from an American League wild-card position.

With the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros each winning, the Jays are now 3.5 games in arrears of the final spot as the exasperation continues to accelerate.

“We know as a group that we can be better than what we have been,” Kiermaier said on another maddening loss.

“We can’t sit here and harp on everything that’s happened through the course of the season. What we control is now what we do moving forward.

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“We know that time is ticking and we’ve got to play great.”

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The latest infuriating setback boiled over in the ninth when the Jays had the bases loaded with nobody out, but could muster only a single run to pull within one, the game ending on a meek pop-up foul by Danny Jansen, preceded by a harmless grounder from Vlad Guerrero Jr.

A crowd of 39,722 was on their feet for that melted-away moment that had all the feeling of a season-changer. Instead, it was another loss that dipped the Jays’ record to 72-61 and a mediocre 34-30 at the Rogers Centre.

“We all know that every loss and every win is at a premium right now,” manager John Schneider said afterward. “Every loss sucks. Quick turnaround. Have to be ready to roll (when the home stand ends Wednesday afternoon.)”

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So yes, time is ticking indeed and not much is bouncing the Jays’ way these days — from health to momentum to the latest heartbreaking defeat.

Prior to Tuesday’s contest, the Blue Jays placed their best hitter, Bo Bichette (strained quad) on the injured list for the second time this month. A day earlier, their best defender, Matt Chapman, went on the 10-day IL with a finger strain. Come game time, the potential impact bat of Brandon Belt wasn’t available due to back spasms.

That left Schneider to cobble together a lineup that had recent callup Ernie Clement at shortstop and Santiago Espinal at third. Rookie sensation Davis Schneider, at second, added to his burgeoning legend with a solo homer in the fifth and an RBI double in the seventh.

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No matter how much they try, it seems, the Jays can’t harvest any meaningful momentum, but now have to find a way to do so in a hurry. With 29 games remaining, it certainly feels as though the urgency is building.

“We’ve got a great clubhouse, but there’s been a lot of ups and downs,” Kiermaier said of the current conundrum.

“We’re a lot better than what we’ve shown throughout the year. We’ve had a couple of really good stretches, but we thought there would be more of them throughout the year.

“We’ve had guys not feeling as locked-in as what they might be. As a group, we all know we could be so much better and we’ve put a lot of pressure on ourselves.”

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There’s little doubt the Jays are feeling the heat, especially with the absence of two of their star players. When tardy-footed Alejandro Kirk was gunned down at the plate to end the eighth inning while trying to score on a tag-up on a fly ball out to centre, it created an instant flashpoint for second-guessing.

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“The odds of a medium-depth fly ball with an average-throwing outfielder and Kirky at third was probably last on my bingo card,” Schneider said of the gutting that was to be outdone in the following inning with the bases-loaded shortfall.

Schneider doubled down when asked if he considered pinch-running for Kirk in the eighth.

“Tying run, yeah, we would have had a runner there,” the manager said. “Down by two? No.”

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios reacts as the Washington Nationals’ Keibert Ruiz rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run during fifth inning MLB action in Toronto on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Photo by Frank Gunn /THE CANADIAN PRESS

It will take more than a good story like that of Davis Schneider to salvage the season, however. It’s going to take players such as George Springer, Vlad Guerrero Jr. and others to start carrying the load offensively. And it’s going to need to happen soon.

“There are times when I do wish we could go out there and hit someone or do something to get the crowd into it,” Kiermaier said.

“But you can’t go out there and say ‘Yeah, I’m going to hit a homer on the first pitch.’ You have to let the game come to you, collectively and as a group.”

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AROUND THE BASES

It didn’t help that Jays starter Jose Berrios was hit hard by the Nationals, the biggest damage coming on a three-run Keibert Ruiz homer in the fifth … Berrios allowed five runs on six hits through six innings, striking out just two to take the loss … Davis Schneider now has four homers in his last five games and his six on the season, matching Kirk’s total.

rlongley@postmedia.com

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Blue Jays suffer yet another late-game letdown in costly loss to Guardians - Sportsnet.ca

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1. Blue Jays suffer yet another late-game letdown in costly loss to Guardians  Sportsnet.ca
2. Kieboom and Ruiz homer as Nationals hold on to beat Blue Jays  TSN
3. Jays Loss Yet Another Frustrating Game  Bluebird Banter
4. Late-game rally comes up short, Blue Jays fall back in playoff race  Blue Jays Nation
5. CLOCK'S TICKING: Jays dip further out of playoff picture as comeback falls short  Toronto Sun
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