Boston Red Sox at Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays just keep holding the line, suddenly playing a scrappy and stubborn brand of baseball. Tuesday’s 5-3 win over the Red Sox at Rogers Centre wasn’t pretty, but we’re long past aesthetics here. The Blue Jays need wins any way they can find them, and with four in their last five games, this team is quietly building some momentum. “We’ve been playing really well, even in Philly, just fighting hard and doing the extra things in games,” said Dylan Cease. “I think we’ve been playing very clean baseball.” This is what mattered most: **1\. Brett Bateman, you’re up** If you hit, you’re going to play. If you hit in big spots, get ready to be in that lineup 41 more times. Brett Bateman is doing just that since coming over from the Cubs in the Kevin Gausman deal, so John Schneider keeps trusting him. With a single, double and two RBIs Tuesday, Bateman was one of the most important players on the field, and if he keeps contributing offensively while playing a solid center field, he may just stick near the top of the Blue Jays’ lineup, too. “You never know when you’re going to find a dude,” Schneider said. “Again, it’s a handful of games, but he has the potential with both his skills and the way he thinks, the way he can adjust, to be pretty damn good.” The outfield is wide open in 2027, too, especially in center. This is officially an audition, and Bateman is making a fine first impression. “I like the zone control, I like the contact ability and I like what’s going on between his ears,” Schneider said.