Stroman: 'Zero reason to panic' about Blue Jays' 1-7 start

There wasn't much else Marcus Stroman could have done Wednesday night to try to halt the Toronto Blue Jays' historic skid.

The right-hander allowed two runs off seven hits while striking out four in a complete game - his first since 2014 - against the Milwaukee Brewers, but was saddled with the loss as the Blue Jays were shut out 2-0.

Toronto has dropped five straight and fell to an MLB-worst 1-7 with the loss and are currently involved in the worst start to a season in franchise history.

"It's still early," Stroman said, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. "It's the first week of the season. Zero reason to panic."

The club preached patience following Tuesday's loss to the Brewers, with manager John Gibbons saying there was no doubt in his mind that the bats would wake up soon.

That didn't happen Wednesday, however, as the Blue Jays managed just three hits over seven innings off Brewers starter Chase Anderson, striking out seven times.

Scoring runs has been a major issue through the first eight games, as Toronto ranks last in the majors in average (.190), OPS (.549), and second last in runs scored (23).

"I believe this is the best offense in baseball," Stroman said, according to Nick Ashbourne of Yahoo Canada Sports. "I know it is, it's just a matter of them struggling a bit right now. I know once these guys get going it's going to be scary."

While the Blue Jays continue to say it's early, history is not on their side. Only three teams that have started 1-7 have gone on to make the playoffs, with the 2011 Tampa Bay Rays the last team to do so.