The previous 1.5 months of Blue Jays baseball have regarded like a ship stuffed with holes. It feels as if as quickly as one weak spot is patched up, one other rears its ugly head once more. As quickly because it seems like they’ve lastly risen to the event, the beginning pitching and bullpen undergo immense lows. As soon as these are solved and the pitching will get again on observe, the offense disappears once more. Regardless of all of this inconsistency, the Blue Jays maintain a file of 22-24 as we attain Victoria Day. It’s removed from good or perfect, however with the American League Wild Card enjoying out because it has to date, the Jays are nonetheless closely in rivalry for a postseason berth. A number of elements which can be at present in play may get them excessive this season and assist them stand out from the remainder of the pack.
Offensive Nook Outfielder
As unpredictable because the Jays’ offense has been for the previous couple of seasons, administration did make an effort this offseason to deal with the dearth of manufacturing within the type of Anthony Santander. A switch-hitter coming off a season the place he slugged 44 residence runs with a WRC+ of 129 felt like an ideal match for this lineup. Nevertheless, by way of 46 video games, it has not been as seamless a transition to Toronto as Santander would have possible wished. At the moment, Santander sports activities a .182/.264/.308 slash line, and whereas he has introduced some much-needed thump to the lineup with 5 HRs, he nonetheless has but to totally cement his spot within the lineup with constant efficiency. On high of that, Santander is a web damaging defensively, so if he’s going to take part as a DH, he must be in a position to search out some consistency on the plate. In any other case, he dangers changing into an anchor or an overpaid bench piece, neither of which anybody needs for him.
With all that in thoughts, the Blue Jays may use another possibility within the nook outfield as a type of insurance coverage for Santander. If you take a look at how the Blue Jays’ outfield stands as of right now, they Daulton Varsho has been doing greater than his half on each side of the sport, Nathan Lukes has been a nice shock, and George Springer has seemingly discovered the fountain of youth after some had prompt his profession was near being all however over. Nevertheless, Springer isn’t enjoying on an on a regular basis foundation, and whilst you hope Nathan Lukes’ breakout marketing campaign continues, it might be irresponsible to not have one thing deliberate in case it doesn’t. Addison Barger has proven promise defensively when within the outfield this season, however as of just lately, it appears just like the Jays choose him at 3B.
In any case, if the Blue Jays wish to maintain tempo inside their division, not solely will they want Santander to return to the shape they anticipated of him, however they will even require some exterior manufacturing from different locations as properly within the nook outfield.
Toronto’s beginning rotation has been extra dependable over the previous couple of seasons than they frankly received credit score for. Maybe the shine doesn’t get utilized as a lot when the crew nonetheless loses on the finish of the day, however followers would unanimously agree that the pitching employees has been essentially the most constant facet of the Blue Jays crew over the previous 4–5 years. The place it has lacked fully is the depth within the rotation if you get previous the primary 5 projected starters going right into a season. Whereas including Max Scherzer is undoubtedly a cool second for the franchise and legitimately improves the rotation, it was not essentially the most stunning factor on the planet to see him go down with an damage so early. Nevertheless, the group has constantly had a weak gap of their 6-7 slot starters, the place they find yourself sending out hope and prayer choices like Easton Lucas, Paxton Schultz, and Casey Lawrence. No disrespect to these names, and granted, choices like Eric Lauer, Jose Urena, and Spencer Turnbull have been finally signed, however to not have this obvious want addressed going into the season is frankly unacceptable for a crew that fancies itself as aggressive.
Nonetheless, even with the depth now accrued within the beginning rotation, including yet one more vital starter wouldn’t be the worst factor on the planet for this crew. With the present struggles that Bowden Francis and Jose Berrios are experiencing, you by no means know when and the place you might want a key arm to step in. Whereas a reputation like Sandy Alcantara appears a tad bold, names like Andrew Heaney and Tyler Anderson are a lot nearer within the realm of risk. Each being leases, they’d not value a reasonably penny, and will nonetheless present a big affect that might enhance not solely the efficiency of the pitching employees, however its versatility as properly.
The Jays’ rotation isn’t as shutdown or as star-studded as you’ll count on from a contender just like the Phillies or Dodgers, however with a couple of easy tweaks, it may find yourself changing into simpler than the place they began.
Among the most spectacular enhancements the Blue Jays have constituted of final season have been with their bullpen. Granted, it’s not a excessive bar to succeed in after their bullpen was value -3.0 WAR final season, however the additions to date have gone exceptionally properly. Jeff Hoffman has carried out like an absolute shutdown nearer, Yimi Garcia has been value each penny of that $7.5M deal, and center reduction choices like Nick Sandlin, Brendon Little, and Mason Fluharty have all performed properly when wholesome. Nevertheless, they don’t seem to be good, as just lately each Hoffman and Garcia went by way of stretches the place they may not get an out to save lots of their lives. This might be partially blamed on each the offense not with the ability to produce sufficient, the place each sport is shut, or not having the beginning pitching depth high quality to forestall the bullpen from getting used early.
Both method, the bullpen is getting extraordinarily overworked, and we’re solely in mid-Could. Erik Swanson and Ryan Burr coming again ought to assist alleviate and deviate the workload of the reduction corps, but when the Jays actually wish to guarantee all the things is unfold properly, it seems like yet one more key reduction arm is lacking. It doesn’t must be anybody too vital both. A reputation like Ryan Helsley could be an ideal match, particularly with the flexibility within the roles of Hoffman and Garcia, however he appears to be the belle of the ball when it comes to accessible relievers. Maybe a distinct method to somebody like David Bednar or Kyle Finnegan would make extra sense. Each are at present within the nearer’s function and have years of expertise there, however each even have spent a while in high-leverage non-closing conditions. Having that sort of expertise and flexibility throughout the bullpen permits for a number of arms to tackle completely different roles, but additionally extra bullpen choices to make use of typically, thus giving extra excessive leverage choices time to relaxation and change into simpler extra incessantly.
Even when the choices will not be as high-leverage as a Bednar or Finnegan, bringing the bullpen some assist to offer them a break can be key if the Jays have any postseason hopes.
