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Marcus Stroman gives up seven earned runs on 11 hits as the Toronto Blue Jays are pummelled 8-3 in the final game of their three-game series with the A’s who sweep the series in Oakland. Stroman’s ERA increased to 5.63 from 5.20 after Wednesday’s performance. TSN Baseball Reporter Scott Mitchell provides his key takeaways from the series:

GAMES 105-107, JULY 30-AUG. 1: JAYS at ATHLETICS

RESULT: Oakland sweeps series 3-0

RECORD: 48-59

STREAK: L3

1—Stroman scuffles, addresses trade rumours

With a gassed bullpen and no clear starter for Thursday’s series opener in Seattle — John Axford was going to get another “start” but that dream died when the veteran reliever was shipped to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday — the Jays needed some innings out of Marcus Stroman, at the very least.

They got five-plus, but he was tagged for seven earned runs in the process, sending his ERA upwards from 5.20 to 5.63 in his 15th start of the season.

It wasn’t good, but it also wasn’t as bad as it looks.

Stroman was dinked and dunked all day long, with most of the damage coming on soft contact that found holes.

Danny Barnes, who came off the disabled list for his first appearance since June 21 due to a wonky left knee, didn’t help much, as he entered the game with a pair of runners on in the sixth and gave up a first-pitch double to Franklin Barreto, adding two more earned runs to Stroman’s line.

Even though he suffered through some bad luck with batted balls, the 11 hits and seven earned runs are both season highs in a tough year for the 27-year-old.

One day after the trade deadline, Stroman also addressed rumours that had the Blue Jays listening to offers for their diminutive right-hander.

“It’s just rumours, man,” Stroman said with a grin. “Just rumours. I never believed any of that. I didn’t believe I was going anywhere.”

Stroman is scheduled to take the mound again in the opener of a three-game series at home on Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox.

2—Gurriel sent to disabled list with leg injuries

The inevitable happened Wednesday morning when the Jays placed Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on the 10-day disabled list, putting his streak of 11-straight multi-hit games on hold for the foreseeable future.

Gurriel is dealing with a pair of problems after twisting his left leg in awkward fashion while trying to avoid a tag Sunday in Chicago.

Given a wide two-to-six week recovery window, the 24-year-old has a Grade 1 knee sprain, as well as a high-ankle sprain.

The ankle is the biggest issue, and it’s likely to keep him on the DL closer to the high side of that timeline.

The timing couldn’t be worse, as Gurriel had been one of the toughest outs in baseball for the last couple of weeks, putting together a .500/.519/.740 slash line with three homers and nine driven in during his record-setting streak.

3—Contending Athletics run roughshod over Jays

After winning a series against the rebuilding Chicago White Sox to begin this 10-game road trip, the A’s proved to be a much tougher matchup for the Jays.

A surprise contender, the A’s are showing they’re legit, pounding out 36 hits and 24 runs in the sweep of the Jays.

The Toronto offence could only muster six runs.

Starting pitching might eventually be the Achilles heel for the Athletics, but the bullpen is solid and the lineup is deep.

In the series finale Wednesday, it was Barreto, the key piece in the Josh Donaldson trade back in 2014, rubbing salt in the wound with a three-hit day, including a two-run double and a solo home run.

It’s amazing to think that four years later, Donaldson’s value has diminished to the point that a mid-level prospect is all the Jays will get in return for the free-agent-to-be, while Barreto could finally be developing into a viable big leaguer.

4—Martin enjoys productive road trip

Sitting on a .174 batting average when he left Toronto, Russell Martin has enjoyed a productive roadie thus far, collecting hits in each of his four starts.

Two of those hits were home runs, including his ninth of the season on Wednesday, helping push his average closer to cracking the Mendoza Line at .190.

Martin’s workload down the stretch will be worth monitoring, as Danny Jansen is sitting on an .860 OPS at Triple-A Buffalo.

Jansen, who was in the conversation to receive a September call up last year, seems like a lock to arrive in Toronto for a cameo by next month, leaving a tricky three catcher rotation in manager John Gibbons’ hands.

5—Starter for opener in Toronto West undecided

Jays fans will make their annual pilgrimage to Safeco Field starting Thursday, but they’ll have no idea who they’re going to see on the mound in the series opener on Thursday.

A third bullpen day in the span of a week and a half is unenviable thanks to trades and overuse, leaving the front office searching for a fresh arm to recall to give them some innings.

As they were packing up to head to Seattle on Wednesday afternoon, Gibbons didn’t know what the plan was going to be.

One name it definitely won’t be is Sean Reid-Foley, one of the organization’s top pitching prospects, as he spun 6.1 innings of one-run ball for Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday.

UP NEXT: Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field

THURSDAY: TBD vs. TBD

FRIDAY: LHP Ryan Borucki (0-2, 2.83) vs. TBD

SATURDAY: RHP Marco Estrada (4-8, 4.90) vs. TBD

SUNDAY: RHP Sam Gaviglio (2-4, 5.10) vs. TBD​