1998 Toronto Blue Jays season

1998  Toronto Blue Jays
League	American League
Division	East
Ballpark	SkyDome
City	Toronto
Record	88–74 (.543)
Divisional place	3rd
Owners	Interbrew, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
General managers	Gord Ash
Managers	Tim Johnson
Television	CBC Television (Brian Williams, John Cerutti) The Sports Network (Dan Shulman, Buck Martinez)
Radio	CHUM (AM) (Jerry Howarth, Tom Cheek)
←  1997 Seasons 1999  →

The 1998 Toronto Blue Jays season was the franchise's 22nd season of Major League Baseball. It resulted in the Blue Jays finishing third in the American League East with a record of 88 wins and 74 losses, which was their best record since their 1993 World Series-winning season; the 88 wins were not surpassed until 2015.

With the disappointing last-place finish of the previous year, General Manager Gord Ash once again dug into the wallet to improve the team, signing reliever Randy Myers and slugger José Canseco as free agents. Though the team improved noticeably (thanks to another pitching Triple Crown and Cy Young Award-winning campaign by ace hurler Roger Clemens and a powerful lineup that featured Canseco, Carlos Delgado, Shawn Green, and José Cruz Jr.), they could not finish ahead of the New York Yankees or the Boston Red Sox, who won 114 and 92 games en route to winning the division crown and wild card respectively.

Transactions

Transactions by the Toronto Blue Jays during the off-season before the 1998 season. ^[1]

October 1997

October 6	Luis Andújar granted free agency (signed with Toronto Blue Jays to a one-year contract on November 11, 1997). Jacob Brumfield granted free agency (signed with Toronto Blue Jays to a one-year contract on January 5, 1998),
October 15	Huck Flener granted free agency. Ryan Thompson granted free agency.
October 17	Rickey Cradle granted free agency (signed with Seattle Mariners to a one-year contract on November 7, 1997).
October 27	Orlando Merced granted free agency (signed with Minnesota Twins to a one-year, $800,000 contract on January 14, 1998). Charlie O'Brien granted free agency (signed with Chicago White Sox to a two-year, $1.4 million contract on December 10, 1997).
October 28	Joe Carter granted free agency (signed with Baltimore Orioles to a one-year, $3.3 million contract on December 12, 1997). Mariano Duncan granted free agency. Juan Samuel granted free agency (signed with Toronto Blue Jays to a one-year, $421,000 contract.
October 29	Selected Dane Johnson off of waivers from the Oakland Athletics.

November 1997

November 11	Re-signed free agent Luis Andújar to a one-year contract.
November 18	Rich Butler selected by Tampa Bay Devil Rays as the 10th pick in the 1997 MLB expansion draft. Omar Daal selected by Arizona Diamondbacks as the 31st pick in the 1997 MLB expansion draft. Marty Janzen selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 1997 MLB expansion draft.
November 25	Signed free agent Shannon Withem from the Detroit Tigers to a contract.
November 26	Signed free agent Darrin Fletcher from the Montreal Expos to a two-year, $4.1 million contract. Signed free agent Randy Myers from the Baltimore Orioles to a three-year, $18 million contract.
November 27	Signed free agent Craig Grebeck from the Anaheim Angels to a one-year, $390,000 contract. Signed free agent Pat Kelly from the New York Yankees to a one-year, $325,000 contract.

December 1997

December 6	Re-signed free agent Juan Samuel to a one-year, $421,000 contract.
December 8	Signed free agent Mark Dalesandro from the Chicago Cubs to a contract. Signed free agent Tony Fernández from the Cleveland Indians to a two-year, $4.2 million contract. Signed free agent Mike Stanley from the New York Yankees to a two-year, $6.15 million contract.
December 10	Signed free agent Alex Delgado from the Florida Marlins to a one-year contract.
December 11	Signed free agent José Herrera from the Oakland Athletics to a one-year contract. Traded Sandy Martínez to the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later (Trevor Schaffer on December 19, 1997).
December 15	Drafted Luis Saturria from the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1997 MLB Rule 5 draft. Joe Davenport drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 1997 MLB Rule 5 draft.
December 21	Carlos García granted free agency (signed with Cleveland Indians to a contract on January 6, 1998).

January 1998

January 5	Re-signed free agent Jacob Brumfield to a one-year contract.
January 20	Signed free agent Phil Plantier from the St. Louis Cardinals to a contract.

February 1998

February 4	Signed free agent Jose Canseco from the Oakland Athletics to a one-year, $2.1 million contract.
February 6	Re-signed Shawn Green to a two-year, $4.625 million contract.

March 1998

March 14	Acquired Kevin Brown from the Texas Rangers for Tim Crabtree.
March 15	Re-signed Dan Plesac to a contract extension through 1999 (one-year, $1.5 million in 1999).
March 20	Returned Luis Saturria to the St. Louis Cardinals.
March 24	Released Jacob Brumfield.
March 25	Signed free agent Patrick Lennon from the Anaheim Angels to a contract.
March 30	Robert Pérez selected off of waivers by the Seattle Mariners.

Regular season

Season standings

• v
• t
• e

AL East

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
New York Yankees	114	48	.704	—	62‍–‍19	52‍–‍29
Boston Red Sox	92	70	.568	22	51‍–‍30	41‍–‍40
Toronto Blue Jays	88	74	.543	26	51‍–‍30	37‍–‍44
Baltimore Orioles	79	83	.488	35	42‍–‍39	37‍–‍44
Tampa Bay Devil Rays	63	99	.389	51	33‍–‍48	30‍–‍51

Record vs. opponents

1998 American League record Source: MLB Standings Grid – 1998 v t e
Team	ANA	BAL	BOS	CWS	CLE	DET	KC	MIN	NYY	OAK	SEA	TB	TEX	TOR	NL
Anaheim	—	5–6	6–5	5–6	4–7	8–3	6–5	6–5	6–5	5–7	9–3	6–5	5–7	4–7	10–6
Baltimore	6–5	—	6–6	2–9	5–6	10–1	5–6	7–3	3–9	8–3	6–5	5–7	6–5	5–7	5–11
Boston	5–6	6–6	—	5–6	8–3	5–5	8–3	5–6	5–7	9–2	7–4	9–3	6–5	5–7	9–7
Chicago	6–5	9–2	6–5	—	6–6	6–6	8–4	6–6	4–7	4–7	4–7	5–6	5–6	4–6–1	7–9
Cleveland	7–4	6–5	3–8	6–6	—	9–3	8–4	6–6	4–7	3–8	9–2	7–3	4–7	7–4	10–6
Detroit	3–8	1–10	5–5	6–6	3–9	—	6–6	8–4	3–8	7–4	3–8	5–6	3–8	5–6	7–9
Kansas City	5–6	6–5	3–8	4–8	4–8	6–6	—	7–5	0–10	7–4	4–6	8–3	3–8	6–5	9–7
Minnesota	5–6	3–7	6–5	6–6	6–6	4–8	5–7	—	4–7	4–7	2–9	7–4	7–4	4–7	7–9
New York	5–6	9–3	7–5	7–4	7–4	8–3	10–0	7–4	—	8–3	8–3	11–1	8–3	6–6	13–3
Oakland	7–5	3–8	2–9	7–4	8–3	4–7	4–7	7–4	3–8	—	5–7	5–6	6–6	5–6	8–8
Seattle	3–9	5–6	4–7	7–4	2–9	8–3	6–4	9–2	3–8	7–5	—	6–5	5–7	4–7	7–9
Tampa Bay	5–6	7–5	3–9	6–5	3–7	6–5	3–8	4–7	1–11	6–5	5–6	—	4–7	5–7	5–11
Texas	7–5	5–6	5–6	6–5	7–4	8–3	8–3	4–7	3–8	6–6	7–5	7–4	—	7–4	8–8
Toronto	7–4	7–5	7–5	6–4–1	4–7	6–5	5–6	7–4	6–6	6–5	7–4	7–5	4–7	—	9–7

Transactions

Transactions for the Toronto Blue Jays during the 1998 regular season. ^[2]

April 1998

April 1

Signed free agent Dave Stieb to a one-year, $300,000 contract.

May 1998

May 21	Signed amateur free agent Scott Cassidy to a contract.
May 29	Selected Ben Van Ryn off of waivers from the San Diego Padres.

June 1998

June 16

Released Erik Hanson.

July 1998

July 1	Signed free agent Tony Phillips from the Anaheim Angels to a one-year contract.
July 3	Signed amateur free agent Gustavo Chacín to a contract.
July 10	Released Luis Andújar.
July 16	Player rights of Pat Kelly sold to the St. Louis Cardinals.
July 30	Acquired Pete Munro and Jay Yennaco from the Boston Red Sox for Mike Stanley.
July 31	Acquired Nerio Rodríguez and Shannon Carter from the Baltimore Orioles for Juan Guzmán. Acquired Scott Rivette from the Oakland Athletics for Ed Sprague Jr. Acquired Leo Estrella from the New York Mets for Tony Phillips.

August 1998

August 6

Acquired Brian Loyd from the San Diego Padres for Randy Myers.

September 1998

September 23	Julio Mosquera selected off of waivers by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
September 25	Signed amateur free agent Guillermo Quiróz to a contract.

1998 MLB draft

• June 2, 1998: Felipe López was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1st round (8th pick) of the 1998 amateur draft. Player signed August 11, 1998. ^[3]

Roster

1998 Toronto Blue Jays
Roster
Pitchers 40 Carlos Almanzar 49 Luis Andújar 26 Chris Carpenter 21 Roger Clemens 45 Kelvim Escobar 57 Juan Guzmán 52 Roy Halladay 39 Erik Hanson 41 Pat Hentgen 28 Randy Myers 31 Robert Person 19 Dan Plesac 48 Paul Quantrill 55 Bill Risley 39 Nerio Rodríguez 53 Steve Sinclair 37 Dave Stieb 50 Ben Van Ryn 30 Woody Williams 58 Shannon Withem		Catchers 14 Kevin Brown 59,5 Mark Dalesandro  9 Darrin Fletcher 18 Benito Santiago Infielders 25 Carlos Delgado  2 Tom Evans  1 Tony Fernández  8 Alex Gonzalez  4 Craig Grebeck 13 Tomás Pérez 33 Ed Sprague 20 Mike Stanley  6 Kevin Witt		Outfielders 44,33 Jose Canseco  3 Felipe Crespo 23 José Cruz Jr. 15 Shawn Green 20 Patrick Lennon 12 Tony Phillips 11 Juan Samuel 24 Shannon Stewart		Manager 17 Tim Johnson Coaches 22 Sal Butera (bullpen) 16 Jack Hubbard (first base) 10 Jim Lett (bench) 36 Gary Matthews (hitting) 34 Mel Queen (pitching)  7 Eddie Rodríguez (third base)

Game log

1998 Game Log
April: 10–16 (Home: 5–8; Away: 5–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 1 Twins 3–2 Clemens (1–0) Tewksbury (0–1) Myers (1) 41,387 1–0 2 April 2 Twins 3–2 Guardado (1–0) Escobar (0–1) Aguilera (1) 25,584 1–1 3 April 3 Rangers 5–0 Helling (1–0) Guzmán (0–1) 25,509 1–2 4 April 4 Rangers 9–2 Williams (1–0) Oliver (0–1) 30,156 2–2 5 April 5 Rangers 6–5 Burkett (1–1) Risley (0–1) Wetteland (1) 28,106 2–3 6 April 7 @ Twins 12–2 Tewksbury (1–1) Clemens (1–1) 8,421 2–4 7 April 8 @ Twins 9–6 Hentgen (1–0) Hawkins (0–1) Myers (2) 8,532 3–4 8 April 9 @ Twins 13–2 Radke (1–1) Guzmán (0–2) 9,075 3–5 9 April 10 @ Rangers 4–3 Helling (2–0) Plesac (0–1) Wetteland (2) 32,314 3–6 10 April 11 @ Rangers 9–8 Almanzar (1–0) Oliver (0–2) Myers (3) 37,520 4–6 11 April 12 @ Rangers 3–1 Wetteland (1–0) Quantrill (0–1) 28,435 4–7 12 April 13 @ Royals 11–1 Rusch (1–2) Hentgen (1–1) 11,749 4–8 13 April 14 @ Royals 5–1 Guzmán (1–2) Rapp (0–1) Quantrill (1) 11,194 5–8 14 April 15 @ Royals 7–3 Haney (2–0) Williams (1–1) 11,316 5–9 15 April 17 White Sox 6–1 Clemens (2–1) Bere (0–3) 28,240 6–9 16 April 18 White Sox 9–4 Hentgen (2–1) Navarro (1–2) 29,065 7–9 17 April 19 White Sox 5–4 (12) Carpenter (1–0) Castillo (0–1) 31,265 8–9 18 April 20 Yankees 3–2 (11) Banks (1–0) Risley (0–2) Stanton (4) 26,385 8–10 19 April 21 Yankees 5–3 (10) Stanton (1–0) Plesac (0–2) 27,192 8–11 20 April 22 Yankees 9–1 Pettitte (3–2) Clemens (2–2) 29,164 8–12 21 April 24 @ White Sox 3–1 Hentgen (3–1) Navarro (1–3) Myers (4) 14,198 9–12 22 April 25 @ White Sox 8–1 Eyre (1–2) Guzmán (1–3) 14,457 9–13 23 April 26 @ White Sox 5–5 (6) Postponed (rain)Rescheduled for July 15 13,705 9–13 24 April 27 @ Yankees 1–0 Pettitte (4–2) Clemens (2–3) Rivera (2) 17,863 9–14 25 April 28 @ Yankees 5–2 Williams (2–1) Mendoza (0–1) Myers (5) 18,727 10–14 26 April 29 Royals 7–2 Pichardo (1–2) Hentgen (3–2) 25,644 10–15 27 April 30 Royals 7–4 Rusch (3–3) Guzmán (1–4) Montgomery (5) 26,690 10–16
May: 18–11 (Home: 8–6; Away: 10–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 28 May 1 @ Athletics 5–2 Candiotti (3–3) Hanson (0–1) Taylor (7) 7,078 10–17 29 May 2 @ Athletics 7–0 Clemens (3–3) Oquist (0–1) 10,729 11–17 30 May 3 @ Athletics 6–3 Williams (3–1) Telgheder (0–1) Myers (6) 23,463 12–17 31 May 4 @ Athletics 7–4 Rogers (5–1) Hentgen (3–3) 5,206 12–18 32 May 5 @ Angels 13–11 Plesac (1–2) Percival (0–2) Myers (7) 17,271 13–18 33 May 6 @ Angels 6–5 Escobar (1–1) Hasegawa (1–1) Myers (8) 17,392 14–18 34 May 7 @ Mariners 6–0 Clemens (4–3) Moyer (2–4) 24,129 15–18 35 May 8 @ Mariners 8–3 Johnson (3–1) Williams (3–2) 29,920 15–19 36 May 9 @ Mariners 4–1 Hentgen (4–3) Swift (2–2) Myers (9) 49,851 16–19 37 May 10 @ Mariners 3–1 Fassero (4–1) Guzmán (1–5) Ayala (7) 39,249 16–20 38 May 12 Athletics 4–3 (10) Myers (1–0) Taylor (0–3) 25,636 17–20 39 May 13 Athletics 4–2 Haynes (2–1) Clemens (4–4) Fetters (2) 25,732 17–21 40 May 14 Angels 5–4 Myers (2–0) DeLucia (1–2) 25,606 18–21 41 May 15 Angels 9–1 Hentgen (5–3) Hill (6–2) 26,644 19–21 42 May 16 Mariners 8–1 Fassero (5–1) Guzmán (1–6) 31,121 19–22 43 May 17 Mariners 4–3 Plesac (2–2) Slocumb (1–3) 28,111 20–22 44 May 18 Mariners 9–4 Spoljaric (3–0) Clemens (4–5) 28,125 20–23 45 May 19 Devil Rays 3–1 Williams (4–2) Springer (1–7) Myers (10) 25,662 21–23 46 May 20 Devil Rays 9–1 Hentgen (6–3) Álvarez (4–5) 26,107 22–23 47 May 21 Devil Rays 6–1 Guzmán (2–6) Arrojo (6–3) 30,108 23–23 48 May 22 @ Indians 9–7 Burba (5–4) Hanson (0–2) Jackson (12) 43,269 23–24 49 May 23 @ Indians 7–2 Clemens (5–5) Colón (3–3) 43,306 24–24 50 May 24 @ Indians 5–0 Williams (5–2) Gooden (0–1) 43,194 25–24 51 May 25 @ Red Sox 7–5 Hentgen (7–3) Martínez (5–1) Myers (11) 32,342 26–24 52 May 26 @ Red Sox 5–2 Guzmán (3–6) Avery (1–1) Myers (12) 27,668 27–24 53 May 28 Indians 6–2 Burba (6–4) Carpenter (1–1) 30,282 27–25 54 May 29 Indians 7–3 Colón (4–3) Clemens (5–6) 29,085 27–26 55 May 30 Indians 4–2 Williams (6–2) Gooden (0–2) Myers (13) 37,179 28–26 56 May 31 Indians 8–3 Nagy (7–2) Hentgen (7–4) Mesa (1) 30,090 28–27
June: 14–14 (Home: 8–5; Away: 6–9) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 57 June 1 Red Sox 9–5 Corsi (2–0) Myers (2–1) 27,372 28–28 58 June 2 Red Sox 11–3 Avery (2–1) Carpenter (1–2) 26,177 28–29 59 June 3 Tigers 5–1 Clemens (6–6) Greisinger (0–1) 26,291 29–29 60 June 4 Tigers 9–6 Williams (7–2) Moehler (5–5) Myers (14) 34,408 30–29 61 June 5 Phillies 8–7 Green (4–4) Risley (0–3) Leiter (11) 31,176 30–30 62 June 6 Phillies 10–6 Gomes (5–2) Guzmán (3–7) 30,102 30–31 63 June 7 Phillies 3–1 Carpenter (2–2) Schilling (5–7) Myers (15) 26,236 31–31 64 June 8 @ Marlins 4–3 (17) Edmondson (1–1) Hanson (0–3) 17,414 31–32 65 June 9 @ Marlins 5–4 Hernández (4–4) Quantrill (0–2) 14,591 31–33 66 June 10 @ Marlins 4–3 (10) Person (1–0) Powell (4–4) Myers (16) 16,994 32–33 67 June 12 Orioles 9–5 Mussina (5–3) Guzmán (3–8) 30,237 32–34 68 June 13 Orioles 9–8 Person (2–0) Drabek (5–7) Myers (17) 38,102 33–34 69 June 14 Orioles 7–4 Clemens (7–6) Smith (0–1) Myers (18) 28,132 34–34 70 June 15 @ Devil Rays 8–7 White (1–3) Quantrill (0–3) Hernández (13) 24,122 34–35 71 June 16 @ Devil Rays 4–3 Mecir (3–0) Myers (2–2) 24,278 34–36 72 June 17 @ Devil Rays 2–1 Arrojo (9–4) Guzmán (3–9) Hernández (14) 24,394 34–37 73 June 18 @ Orioles 13–6 Carpenter (3–2) Johns (2–2) 47,374 35–37 74 June 19 @ Orioles 7–4 (15) Charlton (2–1) Risley (0–4) 47,012 35–38 75 June 20 @ Orioles 11–3 Erickson (8–6) Williams (7–3) 48,011 35–39 76 June 21 @ Orioles 7–3 Hentgen (8–4) Ponson (1–5) Myers (19) 47,522 36–39 77 June 22 Expos 14–2 Guzmán (4–9) Pavano (1–1) 33,132 37–39 78 June 23 Expos 3–2 Carpenter (4–2) Batista (2–4) Myers (20) 33,492 38–39 79 June 24 @ Expos 7–6 Clemens (8–6) Boskie (1–1) Myers (21) 16,515 39–39 80 June 25 @ Expos 1–0 Williams (8–3) Pérez (6–7) 9,256 40–39 81 June 26 @ Braves 6–4 Hentgen (9–4) Smoltz (5–2) Myers (22) 47,081 41–39 82 June 27 @ Braves 2–0 Maddux (11–2) Guzmán (4–10) 48,338 41–40 83 June 28 @ Braves 10–3 Glavine (11–3) Carpenter (4–3) 44,185 41–41 84 June 30 Mets 6–3 Clemens (9–6) Reed (9–5) 30,322 42–41
July: 12–15 (Home: 9–4; Away: 3–12) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 85 July 1 Mets 15–10 Plesac (3–2) Rojas (3–2) 37,252 43–41 86 July 2 Mets 9–1 Jones (7–5) Hentgen (9–5) 27,325 43–42 87 July 3 Devil Rays 3–2 (10) Myers (3–2) Yan (4–2) 25,625 44–42 88 July 4 Devil Rays 8–0 Carpenter (5–3) Springer (2–11) 29,198 45–42 89 July 5 Devil Rays 2–1 Quantrill (1–3) White (1–4) Myers (23) 31,240 46–42 90 July 9 @ Tigers 4–3 Anderson (2–0) Plesac (3–3) Jones (15) 16,012 46–43 91 July 10 @ Tigers 3–2 (10) Jones (1–3) Quantrill (1–4) 23,394 46–44 92 July 11 @ Tigers 5–2 Moehler (9–6) Carpenter (5–4) Runyan (1) 21,072 46–45 93 July 12 @ Tigers 7–2 Clemens (10–6) Brocail (4–2) 20,231 47–45 94 July 13 @ Orioles 5–0 Rodríguez (1–2) Guzmán (4–11) 41,474 47–46 95 July 14 @ Orioles 11–5 Mussina (7–5) Williams (8–4) 44,122 47–47 96 July 15 @ White Sox 9–3 Navarro (8–10) Hentgen (9–6) 47–48 97 July 15 @ White Sox 5–2 Castillo (4–4) Stieb (0–1) Simas (7) 15,602 47–49 98 July 16 @ White Sox 5–2 Carpenter (6–4) Baldwin (4–4) Myers (24) 19,638 48–49 99 July 17 Yankees 9–6 Clemens (11–6) Holmes (0–2) Myers (25) 39,172 49–49 100 July 18 Yankees 10–3 Hernández (4–2) Guzmán (4–12) 48,123 49–50 101 July 19 Yankees 9–3 Williams (9–4) Pettitte (12–6) 42,176 50–50 102 July 21 White Sox 6–3 Baldwin (5–4) Hentgen (9–7) Simas (8) 30,209 50–51 103 July 22 White Sox 4–0 Clemens (12–6) Parque (2–3) 29,221 51–51 104 July 23 @ Red Sox 8–7 (10) Gordon (5–3) Myers (3–3) 33,011 51–52 105 July 24 @ Red Sox 10–6 Guzmán (5–12) Avery (7–3) Quantrill (2) 33,159 52–52 106 July 25 @ Red Sox 5–3 Lowe (1–7) Williams (9–5) Gordon (28) 33,099 52–53 107 July 26 @ Red Sox 6–3 Martínez (14–3) Hentgen (9–8) 33,059 52–54 108 July 28 Rangers 8–3 Clemens (13–6) Sele (12–8) 29,177 53–54 109 July 29 Rangers 9–6 Oliver (6–7) Carpenter (6–5) Wetteland (28) 28,220 53–55 110 July 30 Rangers 1–0 Guzmán (6–12) Loaiza (0–2) Myers (26) 29,264 54–55 111 July 31 @ Twins 6–4 Rodriguez (1–0) Williams (9–6) Aguilera (27) 26,054 54–56
August: 17–10 (Home: 11–5; Away: 6–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 112 August 1 @ Twins 10–9 Hentgen (10–8) Hawkins (7–10) Myers (27) 17,128 55–56 113 August 2 @ Twins 6–4 Clemens (14–6) Radke (10–9) Myers (28) 40,096 56–56 114 August 4 @ Rangers 11–9 Stottlemyre (1–0) Carpenter (6–6) Wetteland (29) 45,213 56–57 115 August 5 @ Rangers 4–3 Wetteland (3–1) Myers (3–4) 27,766 56–58 116 August 7 Athletics 7–6 Haynes (8–4) Williams (9–7) Fetters (5) 31,286 56–59 117 August 8 Athletics 6–5 (10) Plesac (4–3) Fetters (1–6) 31,330 57–59 118 August 9 Athletics 4–3 Quantrill (2–4) Mohler (3–3) 30,114 58–59 119 August 11 Mariners 7–4 Carpenter (7–6) Fassero (10–8) Quantrill (3) 33,137 59–59 120 August 12 Mariners 11–5 Rodríguez (2–3) Ayala (1–8) 39,139 60–59 121 August 13 Angels 4–3 Risley (1–4) Hasegawa (6–3) Plesac (1) 26,481 61–59 122 August 14 Angels 7–5 Watson (5–7) Hentgen (10–9) Percival (33) 27,276 61–60 123 August 15 Angels 6–3 (11) DeLucia (2–4) Sinclair (0–1) 30,379 61–61 124 August 16 Angels 6–4 Carpenter (8–6) Juden (0–1) Quantrill (4) 29,259 62–61 125 August 17 @ Athletics 4–2 Escobar (2–1) Candiotti (8–14) Plesac (2) 9,761 63–61 126 August 18 @ Athletics 10–5 Haynes (9–5) Williams (9–8) 9,086 63–62 127 August 19 @ Mariners 16–2 Hentgen (11–9) Cloude (7–9) Stieb (1) 26,258 64–62 128 August 20 @ Mariners 7–0 Clemens (15–6) Swift (10–7) 26,642 65–62 129 August 21 @ Angels 9–4 Carpenter (9–6) Juden (0–2) 36,052 66–62 130 August 22 @ Angels 5–1 Sparks (8–2) Escobar (2–2) Hasegawa (3) 42,882 66–63 131 August 23 @ Angels 3–2 Finley (10–6) Almanzar (1–1) Percival (35) 34,142 66–64 132 August 24 Royals 7–3 Barber (1–1) Hentgen (11–10) Whisenant (2) 26,306 66–65 133 August 25 Royals 3–0 Clemens (16–6) Haney (5–6) 26,173 67–65 134 August 26 Royals 7–2 Belcher (12–10) Carpenter (9–7) 25,557 67–66 135 August 27 Royals 11–1 Escobar (3–2) Rosado (7–10) 25,524 68–66 136 August 28 Twins 7–6 Williams (10–8) Trombley (4–4) Plesac (3) 26,268 69–66 137 August 29 Twins 14–7 Stieb (1–1) Radke (10–13) 30,101 70–66 138 August 30 Twins 6–0 Clemens (17–6) Rodriguez (4–3) 29,202 71–66
September: 17–8 (Home: 10–2; Away: 7–6) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 139 September 1 @ Royals 2–1 Carpenter (10–7) Belcher (12–11) Quantrill (5) 12,447 72–66 140 September 2 @ Royals 5–0 Escobar (4–2) Rosado (7–11) Quantrill (6) 12,541 73–66 141 September 3 Red Sox 4–3 (11) Person (3–0) Veras (0–1) 27,226 74–66 142 September 4 Red Sox 12–1 Hentgen (12–10) Wakefield (15–7) Stieb (2) 29,166 75–66 143 September 5 Red Sox 4–3 Clemens (18–6) Saberhagen (12–7) Quantrill (7) 37,158 76–66 144 September 6 Red Sox 8–7 Quantrill (3–4) Lowe (3–9) Person (1) 38,374 77–66 145 September 7 Indians 15–1 Escobar (5–2) Ogea (4–3) 31,089 78–66 146 September 9 Indians 6–3 (13) Jones (1–2) Almanzar (1–2) Jackson (37) 32,157 78–67 147 September 10 @ Yankees 8–5 Pettitte (16–9) Hentgen (12–11) Holmes (2) 25,881 78–68 148 September 11 @ Yankees 5–4 Almanzar (2–2) Irabu (11–9) Person (2) 35,856 79–68 149 September 12 @ Yankees 5–3 Carpenter (11–7) Wells (17–4) Person (3) 48,752 80–68 150 September 13 @ Yankees 5–3 Escobar (6–2) Cone (19–6) Person (4) 47,471 81–68 151 September 14 @ Indians 6–3 Gooden (8–6) Sinclair (0–2) Jackson (39) 43,152 81–69 152 September 15 @ Indians 7–5 Ogea (5–3) Stieb (1–2) Assenmacher (2) 43,323 81–70 153 September 16 @ Tigers 2–1 Clemens (19–6) Powell (3–8) Person (5) 10,967 82–70 154 September 17 @ Tigers 7–4 Brocail (5–2) Person (3–1) 13,304 82–71 155 September 18 @ Devil Rays 6–1 Rekar (2–7) Escobar (6–3) 32,053 82–72 156 September 19 @ Devil Rays 7–5 Lopez (7–3) Van Ryn (0–1) Hernández (26) 35,689 82–73 157 September 20 @ Devil Rays 7–5 (12) Risley (2–4) Lopez (7–4) 32,183 83–73 158 September 21 Orioles 3–1 Clemens (20–6) Erickson (15–13) Plesac (4) 30,380 84–73 159 September 22 Orioles 7–3 Carpenter (12–7) Mussina (13–9) 26,363 85–73 160 September 23 Orioles 6–3 Escobar (7–3) Guzmán (10–16) Person (6) 28,147 86–73 161 September 25 Tigers 7–5 Moehler (14–13) Williams (10–9) Jones (28) 33,151 86–74 162 September 26 Tigers 5–4 (13) Risley (3–4) Sager (4–2) 40,268 87–74 163 September 27 Tigers 2–1 Halladay (1–0) Thompson (11–15) 38,036 88–74

Player stats

= Indicates team leader

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg. = Batting average; Slg. = Slugging Average; SB = Stolen bases

Pos	Player	G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	Avg.	Slg.	SB
C	Darrin Fletcher	124	407	37	115	9	52	.283	.410	0
1B	Carlos Delgado	142	503	94	155	38	115	.292	.592	3
2B	Craig Grebeck	102	301	33	77	2	27	.256	.346	2
3B	Ed Sprague Jr.	105	382	49	91	17	51	.238	.424	0
SS	Alex Gonzalez	158	568	70	136	13	51	.239	.361	21
LF	Shannon Stewart	144	516	90	144	12	55	.279	.417	51
CF	Jose Cruz Jr.	105	352	55	89	11	42	.253	.403	11
RF	Shawn Green	158	630	106	175	35	100	.278	.510	35
DH	Jose Canseco	151	583	98	138	46	107	.237	.518	29

^[4]

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
Tony Fernández	138	486	156	.321	9	72
Mike Stanley	98	341	82	.240	22	47
Felipe Crespo	66	130	34	.262	1	15
Kevin Brown	52	110	29	.264	2	15
Mark Dalesandro	32	67	20	.299	2	14
Juan Samuel	43	50	9	.180	1	2
Tony Phillips	13	48	17	.354	1	7
Benito Santiago	15	29	9	.310	0	4
Tom Evans	7	10	0	.000	0	0
Tomás Pérez	6	9	1	.111	0	0
Kevin Witt	5	7	1	.143	0	0
Patrick Lennon	2	4	2	.500	0	0

Pitching

= Indicates league leader

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Roger Clemens	33	234.2	20*	6	2.65	271
Woody Williams	32	209.2	10	9	4.46	151
Pat Hentgen	29	177.2	12	11	5.17	94
Chris Carpenter	33	175.0	12	7	4.37	136
Juan Guzmán	22	145.0	6	12	4.41	113
Roy Halladay	2	14.0	1	0	1.93	13

• Tied with David Cone (NYY) and Rick Helling (TEX)

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Kelvim Escobar	22	79.2	7	3	3.73	72
Dave Stieb	19	50.1	1	2	4.83	27
Erik Hanson	11	49.0	0	3	6.24	21

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
Randy Myers	41	3	4	28	4.46	32
Paul Quantrill	82	3	4	7	2.59	59
Dan Plesac	78	4	3	4	3.78	55
Bill Risley	44	3	4	0	5.27	42
Robert Person	27	3	1	6	7.04	31
Carlos Almanzar	25	2	2	0	5.34	20
Steve Sinclair	24	0	2	0	3.60	8
Ben Van Ryn	10	0	1	0	9.00	3
Nerio Rodriguez	7	1	0	0	9.72	3
Luis Andújar	5	0	0	0	9.53	1
Shannon Withem	1	0	0	0	3.00	2

Award winners

• José Canseco , DH, Silver Slugger Award
• Roger Clemens , Pitcher of the Month Award, August
• Roger Clemens, Cy Young Award
• Roger Clemens, MLB Leader Wins, 20
• Roger Clemens, AL Strikeout Crown, 271 Strikeouts
• Roger Clemens, AL ERA Crown, 2.65
• Roger Clemens, Major League Record, First Pitcher to win Five Cy Young Awards ^[5]

All-Star Game

• Roger Clemens, P ^[6]

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Syracuse SkyChiefs	International League	Terry Bevington
AA	Knoxville Smokies	Southern League	Omar Malavé
A	Dunedin Blue Jays	Florida State League	Rocket Wheeler
A	Hagerstown Suns	South Atlantic League	Marty Pevey
A-Short Season	St. Catharines Stompers	New York–Penn League	Duane Larson
Rookie	Medicine Hat Blue Jays	Pioneer League	Rolando Pino

^[7]

References

1. "1998 Toronto Blue Jays Trades and Transactions". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
2. "1998 Toronto Blue Jays Trades and Transactions". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
3. Felipe López Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
4. "1998 Seattle Mariners Statistics".
5. Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p.234, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, ISBN   978-0-451-22363-0
6. Blue Jays All-Stars | bluejays.com: History
7. Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007

External links

• 1998 Toronto Blue Jays at Baseball Reference
• 1998 Toronto Blue Jays at Baseball Almanac