Highlights-Lowlights: Brewers-Blue Jays (7/1-7/2)

This is SnoTap's version of recap of the two, three or four game series Milwaukee Brewers will play this season. We focus on the positives and negatives with topics about the game and topics that were nowhere near close to part of the game

Highlights
Ryan Braun - The mild hot streak for Braun continued north of the border. Braun came through with two strong games with driving in the only run on Tuesday with a 2-out RBI double, and then Wednesday, he delivered again with a two-run triple. If Braun's tear continues this weekend, he could be back to .300 for the first time since June 11th.

Zach Duke - Two really good appearances from him. On Wednesday, he inherited a jam with two runners on with no out in the seventh innings in a tied game, and Duke got completely out of it. He forced a double play on a weak bunt attempt and struck out Dionner Navarro to end the inning. He also pitched a scoreless frame on Tuesday afternoon with another solid outing.

Marco Estrada - Yes, he did take a loss in the game against the Jays and inevitably, he gave up two home runs yet they were both solo shots. Estrada looked good again in his second straight start, and this isn't an easy lineup to deal with no matter whose the pitcher. Estrada obviously responded to the pressure when everyone called for his head. He just didn't get the run support.

Edwin Encarnacion - It is hard not to be impressed with the Blue Jays third baseman. I wrote about the Jays earlier this season. I think he will be a bonafide MVP candidate at the end of the season, and he hurt the Brewers dearly on Wednesday as Encarnacion took Brandon Kintzler deep in the ninth for a three-run walk off home run.

Jose Bautista - Oh Joey Bats is hurt? Oh he is?  Someone didn't tell Jose 'Don't call me bah-tista' Bautista. He mashed two first inning home runs in Milwaukee short trip to Milwaukee. I am happy this lineup is nowhere near the National League.  

Lowlights
Brandon Kintzler - Uhhhh.... We need to talk a little bit about Brandon. He isn't the same pitcher he was last season. It appears there is something missing from his game right now. Who knows the status of Jim Henderson, but if he could come back, it would be ideal for this team. Kintzler cannot handle big game situations like last night. The bright lights seem to get him. Kintzler's ERA has almost went a full run in under two weeks.

Jean Segura - Bad times for Seggy at the plate. It seemed like he was fixed earlier this season, but Segura struggled mightily in the past five days. In those games, Segura only has one hit in his last 15 at-bats. This dropped his average to .239, the lowest its been since April 29th. For the month of June, Segura only hit .196. Who knows what the issues are at the plate, but it is evident he is dealing with the sophomore slump.

Wily Peralta - Not a great outing from Peralta. Milwaukee gave him the lead twice, and twice, he gave up home runs. In the first, Bautisita sent a big fly out and then after the Brewers gave him a three-run advantage, Peralta gave up a two-run homer in the fourth from former Brewer Juan Francisco. This one is on Peralta. Sure, the offense probably needs more than four runs to beat the Jays, but that's all they needed last team if Peralta was strong.

Rob Wooten - Someone enjoyed Outkast a little too much on Sunday. I only jest with Wooten whom attended the concert. He hurt the lifeless Brewers chances on Tuesday as they were only down a run before Wooten gave up two runs in the eighth. For whatever it's worth, Wooten had five straight scoreless appearances after his five-run meltdown against Cincinnati before Tuesday happened,.

Blazin' Blue Jays: Hottest Team in Baseball

Toronto Blue Jays have not made a postseason since 1993 winning their second straight World Series crown. Since 1993, their only second place finish in the American League East was 2006, but they did not come even close to making the Wild Card as Detroit won 95 games while Toronto only had 87. It appeared like in 2013, this team was ready for a revival.

They made a controversial mega-deal that brought in Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson from Miami and R.A. Dickey in free agency after a Cy Young award winning year.  It didn't happen with Toronto only winning 74 games and being one of the most disappointing teams of the year. Fast forward to 2014 where Toronto has won their last eight games with winning eleven out of their last 13 games and the hottest team in baseball with a three-game advantage over the New York Yankees.  How did the Blue Jays become one of the hottest teams in baseball?

One way is Edwin Encaranacion's red-hot May where he has hit 14 home runs with 10 homers in his last 10 days. He is trailing Baltimore Orioles outfielder Nelson Cruz by one dinger, but he will without question be the American League Player of the Month. Encarancion is having a great three year stretch with hitting 40+ home runs in 2012 and hitting .280 being near the top of all offensive categories. He followed up in 2013 with his first All-Star appearance, and it looks like Encarancion might be starting when it comes to Minnesota this summer. As ESPN's David Schoenfield pointed out, he pulls the ball pretty good, but the numbers show he is more than just a pull home run hitter.

Another major reason is Melky Cabrera is having another All-Star worthy-type season. Let's cut all the bullshit about the PED's because this is not the time for the conversation. He is hitting .322, 70 hits with eight home runs. He is only second to Houston's Jose Altuve in all of baseball when it comes to hits. Cabrera is doing it mostly by hitting singles with only 32 percent of Cabrera's hits were for extra bases. He adds a player on the basepath for Jose Bautista and Encarancion as he usually bats second in the order providing them with more opportunities.  It seems like Cabrera has returned to his 2 form and at his young age, 29, he might be just reaching his full potential. But the combination of his hitting with the power of  Bautista and Encarancion makes this team scary.

The crazy thing with Toronto is they really haven't got much from their pitching staff minus Buehrle whose having a solid season with a 2.33 ERA with a league-leading nine wins although let's not focus on that rather his ability to keep opponents at bay. Other than one bad start against Boston, Buehrle allowed 13 runs in his eleven starts this season. That's pretty impressive and even 19 runs (Six runs against the Red Sox included) in eleven starts is not shabby whatsoever. Buehrle is one of those guys whom sort of gets forgotten. He has been a steady, good pitcher for most of his career, but he never is one of the best in the big leagues. Good to see he is getting some credit for his strong year.

Also worth noting is the strong May Dickey has had for Toronto. He started the month with an ERA at 5.05, and he will likely finish the month with run lower right now at 3.95 barring his final start of the month against Kansas City on Thursday night. Dickey dealt against Oakland going eight strong innings giving up two runs. Some of Dickey's problems do not even start with him as his defense really hasn't helped him this season with a multitude of unearned runs. If Toronto can start building a solid one-two pitch with Buehrle-Dickey plus young pitcher Drew Hutchinson continues to develop, the Jays have enough there to be a contender all season.

Blue Jays have made it the Year of Toronto from the Raptors second round playoff appearance to Rob Ford to Drake. If the Jays keep winning, we will be seeing both Drake and Ford sitting in the front row. The North apparently doesn't stop in the summer.

Charlie.