The Toronto Blue Jays\u2019 bullpen had another brutal outing on Monday, and fans were not pleased with the team.<\/p>\n
Things looked good for the Blue Jays heading into the bottom of the ninth in their series opener against the Cincinnati Reds. Bo Bichette and Daulton Varsho had hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the inning to help Toronto erase a 2-1 deficit and take a 4-2 lead.<\/p>\n
It was shaping up to be another comeback victory for the Blue Jays with just three outs separating them from the win. With the usual closer, Jeff Hoffman, unavailable, Toronto opted to go with Tommy Nance to finish things off, but that didn\u2019t go as expected.<\/p>\n
Nance recorded one out, but gave up two hits before Brendon Little was brought in to replace him. From there, things got even worse, as Little allowed the Reds to get two more hits and drive in three runs to walk off the game by a score of 5-4.<\/p>\n
Noelvi Marte walks it off for the @Reds<\/a> in a WILD 9th inning in Cincinnati! \ud83d\ude33 pic.twitter.com\/fhrnTUoJzE<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 MLB (@MLB) September 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n The Blue Jays once again fetched defeat from the jaws of victory, and it was almost entirely due to their bullpen staff being unable to hold up their end of the bargain. Chris Bassitt had a wonderful start, going six innings and only allowing two runs on five hits. Somehow, the bullpen found a way to record worse numbers in just a half inning.<\/p>\n Toronto fans were understandably upset by the result and did not mince words on social media. Lots were upset with Little\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n \u201cGet Brendon Little off my baseball team,\u201d said one frustrated Blue Jays fan.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d rather see my grandma get the call from the pen than Brendon Little,\u201d said another.<\/a><\/p>\n Little had a 2nd chance and still fk it up\u2026 our bullpen is horrible as usual<\/p>\n \u2014 BG (@BenGuilbault) September 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Day 1 of asking Blue Jays to DFA Brendon Little<\/p>\n \u2014 Jac Caglianone fan 14 (@nieves_nieves11) September 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n I think Little needs a break back down in AAA\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 R2-E2 (@TeslaArtooE2) September 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Others decided to direct their ire towards Blue Jays manager John Schneider, who some fans thought pulled Nance from the game a bit too early. He left the game with one out and runners on first and second.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was the thought behind handing the ball to Brendon Little?\u201d said one Blue Jays fan.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cNice going, John, just go ahead and put our reliever, who\u2019s notorious for not throwing strikes, into the game. Amazing managing,\u201d said another.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n John Schneider couldn\u2019t manage a team of 6 year olds<\/p>\n \u2014 Matt Rowe (@collectsdecks) September 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Very bad management of the bullpen the last couple of games. This is on John Schneider.<\/p>\n \u2014 Sheila Stiles \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 (@styler12) September 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n My heart broke \ud83d\udc94 \u2014 Vlad The Builders Mom (@Kathi072) September 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n The bullpen has been struggling quite a bit in recent weeks, with this being the third blown save in the ninth inning over the past six games. Having Eric Lauer back in the pen<\/a> should help give Toronto some more options, but something will need to change if the Blue Jays want to make some noise in the postseason.<\/p>\n
Thanks alot John Schneider<\/p>\n