By Ron Kaplan, contributor

The Toronto Blue Jays (6-16) played two games yesterday against the host St. Louis Cardinals following their rainout the day before. The Jays probably wish the rain had continued. They lost both ends of their doubleheader: 8-4 in the first game on a walk-off grand slam in the 11th inning, and 6-4 in the nightcap. Kevin Pillar had two singles in six at-bats in the opener. He also scored a run and threw out a runner at second base for his third assist of the season, tops among MLB centerfielders. Unfortunately, he couldn’t pull off one his miracle plays on this one, which went for the game-tying home run. In the second game, Pillar had an infield single to drive in a run in four at-bats and scored another run.

Ian Kinsler was 0-for-4 as the Detroit Tigers (11-10) lost a heartbreaker to the visiting Seattle Mariners, 2-1. The Mariners (10-13) pushed the winning run across in the top of the ninth. Danny Valencia did not appear for Seattle.

Alex Bregman‘s fifth double of the year drove in a run to give the Houston Astros (14-8) a 3-1 lead in the third inning but the host Cleveland Indians came back to win, 4-3.

Joc Pederson remains on the disabled list for the LA Dodgers (11-12), who beat the host San Francisco Giants, 5-1. Are the Dodgers considering a deal which involves Pederson?

No game for Ryan Braun and the Milwaukee Brewers. Add the Giants to the list of possible spots for Braun to land in a trade.

Scott Feldman and the Cincinnati Reds were also off on Thursday as were Craig Breslow and the Minnesota Twins.

Ron Kaplan (@RonKaplanNJ) hosts Kaplan’s Korner, a blog about Jews and sports. He is the author of three books, including The Jewish Olympics: The History of the Maccabiah Games and the forthcoming Hank Greenberg in 1938: Hatred and Home Runs in the Shadow of War.

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