Gibbons: Blue Jays have hit 'rock bottom'

There's no easy way to put it.

With the postseason around the corner, the Toronto Blue Jays have only managed to win three games in September. After Wednesday's 8-1 beatdown at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays, manager John Gibbons didn't know how else to frame Toronto's September slide.

"I've got to believe we're at rock bottom," Gibbons told reporters. "I don't see how much lower it could go."

The last winning streak the Blue Jays put together was four games at the end of August - a sweep of the Minnesota Twins at home and a win against the Baltimore Orioles. In September, Toronto has yet to win consecutive games.

On Aug. 29, Toronto sat two games ahead of the Boston Red Sox for the division lead. As of Wednesday, the Blue Jays are 2 1/2 games back of the AL East-leading Red Sox, but still in a playoff spot, owning a share of the Wild Card spot with the Orioles.

To make matters worse, Josh Donaldson missed his third consecutive game. What started out as being sidelined after being "banged up" quickly translated into the reigning AL MVP undergoing an MRI on his hip during Wednesday's contest.

But although he's been unable to help the club in any way this week, he's still optimistic Toronto is in a good position to make the playoffs.

"We still control our own destiny," Donaldson said. "We believe in each other."

If there's a saving grace for the Blue Jays it's that the remaining schedule in September will give them an opportunity to regain ground.

Toronto will travel to the West Coast where they take on the Los Angeles Angels (63-81) in a four-game series. Then to end the season, the Blue Jays take on the powerhouses of the AL East with three series against the New York Yankees, Orioles, and Red Sox.