Blue Jays beat Red Sox 5-3 on June 29, 2025, powered by homers from Guerrero Jr. & Barger. Now, Toronto hosts the Yankees in a huge AL East showdown.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
There's no better feeling than silencing Fenway Park. After Addison Barger and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went back-to-back in the first inning on Sunday, the Toronto Blue Jays never looked back, clinching a 5-3 victory and a vital series win against the Red Sox. But there's no time to celebrate. The bus is gassed up, the flight is home, and the biggest test of the 2025 season is waiting for them: a four-game series against the New York Yankees starting tonight.
The Blue Jays have gone 21-13 over the past month, all while missing key players like Max Scherzer, Anthony Santander, and Daulton Varsho.
Sunday's win was a microcosm of the Jays' recent success: early power and lights-out relief. The one-two punch from Addison Barger and Vladdy Jr. in the very first frame gave Toronto a lead they wouldn't relinquish. When the game got tight, Jeff Hoffman slammed the door, striking out the side in the ninth to secure the 5-3 win and send the Jays home with a 45-38 record and a ton of momentum.
Forget the appetizers; the main course is here. Starting Monday, the Rogers Centre will host the New York Yankees for a four-game set that could dramatically shift the AL East landscape. Sitting just three games behind the division leaders, the Jays have a golden opportunity to make up ground. After sputtering around .500 earlier this year, the team has found its groove and now holds a Wild Card spot. This isn't just another series; it's a statement series.
What makes this run even more impressive is who *isn't* on the field. The Jays have been navigating a minefield of injuries. Ace Max Scherzer (thumb) remains on the IL, and the outfield has been without the power bats of Anthony Santander (shoulder) and Daulton Varsho (hamstring) for all of June. Add key relievers Yimi García and Nick Sandlin to the list, and it's a wonder they're not just surviving, but thriving. The recent recall of Addison Barger, who has provided an immediate spark, shows the front office's confidence in their depth. With no new transactions today, the message is clear: this is the group that's expected to battle the Yankees.
The stage is set. The Blue Jays are playing their best baseball of the season at the perfect time. Can they rise to the occasion and prove they belong at the top of the AL East? Or will the Yankees assert their dominance? It all begins tonight under the dome. Find a seat and buckle up, because this is going to be a wild ride.