Hitting the soft spot

Jays open must-win stretch with fireworks versus White Sox

- GREGOR CHISHOLM

Danny Jansen was the Blue Jays' post-game dunkee after going 3-for-5, including a home run, with five RBIs out of the two-hole.

If the Blue Jays are going to make a push to salvage their season and get back in the race, it almost assuredly needs to start within the next two weeks.

After a gruelling stretch against post-season competitors, the Jays have hit a soft spot in their schedule. Including Monday's series opener at the Rogers Centre, the next 13 games are against the lastplace Chicago White Sox, the struggling Detroit Tigers and the sub.500 Pittsburgh Pirates.

If the Jays win all four series, their record will improve to at least .500.

That would give them a shot at a mid-season reset and keep the third wild-card spot within striking distance just as summer is about to hit.

The so-called easy slate began Monday as José Berríos tossed six strong innings and Danny Jansen went 3-for-5 as the No. 2 hitter in a 9-3 victory over the White Sox.

With a win Tuesday or Wednesday, the Jays would secure their first series victory since April 19 to 21 against the San Diego Padres.

"I think we're more (focused on) winning today," Jays manager John Schneider said when asked about the upcoming slate. "That was been the message for the last couple days; that was the message in the meeting today.