Kevin Gausman's strong outing helps Blue Jays tame Tigers

Field Level MediaField Level Media|published: Sun 17th May, 16:48 2026
MLB: Toronto Blue Jays at Detroit TigersMay 16, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) hits a single in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Kevin Gausman tossed six shutout innings in a bounce-back performance and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered and scored twice as the visiting Toronto Blue Jays defeated the slumping Detroit Tigers 4-1 on Sunday afternoon.

Gausman allowed four hits and didn't issue a walk while striking out five batters.

Gausman was coming off his worst outing of the season. He surrendered seven runs (six earned) and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings to Tampa Bay on Monday.

Tyler Rogers pitched the ninth to record his first save of the season.

Daulton Varsho had a double and triple while scoring twice and driving in a run. Varsho had given Toronto a 2-1 extra-innings victory on Saturday with a game-winning single.

The Tigers have lost 10 of their last 12 games, including two of three during the weekend series.


Riley Greene went hitless in four at-bats, snapping his 11-game hitting streak and 26-game on-base streak.

Detroit starter Jack Flaherty (0-5) allowed four runs and five hits in six innings. He walked none and struck out four. Flaherty has gone 12 starts without a victory, dating back to last September.

The Blue Jays jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first. Guerrero rifled a Flaherty fastball over the left field wall for just his third homer of the season. Varsho followed with a double off the wall and moved to third on Jesus Sanchez's single. Varsho scored on a wild pitch.

Toronto extended its lead to 4-0 in the third. Guerrero reached on a one-out single and scored on Varsho's triple to center. Sanchez brought home Varsho with a sacrifice fly.

Kevin McGonigle just missed getting Detroit on the board in the sixth, sending Varsho to the wall on a long flyout to straightaway center.

Detroit pushed across a run in the eighth, loading the bases with one out. Pinch-hitter Jahmai Jones drove in the run with a fielder's choice grounder. Greene then grounded out against Joe Mantiply.

--Field Level Media

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