The Toronto Blue Jays entered the season, counted out by many. They called it a season to sell and rebuild with a different core. Instead, this Blue Jays team decided to re-sign Vladimir Guerrero Jr. long term and go for it. oday, after tonight’s play, they doubted the same Blue Jays team. People counted them out, but now they sit tied for first place in the American League East. Tomorrow, they play the New York Yankees in their series finale. They have a chance to complete a sweep of the Yankees. They can also hold first place in the AL East all alone.
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The Blue Jays’ offense is third in all of baseball in batting average, hitting .258. They rank 12th in baseball in runs scored with 393. The Blue Jays are 17th in home runs with 89. They are tied for third in on-base percentage with a .330. tenth in OPS with a .731. Alejandro Kirk leads them, and he is tied for sixth in all of baseball in batting average. He has a .306 average. Ernie Clement who is hitting .303. It’s the unusual suspects like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette who are taking the lead for this Blue Jays teams. Guerero Jr. is having a solid season after a slow start as he is posting a slash line of .278/.380/.447 with a .828 OPS. He has 17 doubles, and 12 home runs with 44 RBI following his slow starts.
The one spot of this team that people questioned and has been the tough spot of this team. They rank 26th in baseball with a 4.59 ERA, a 4.65 FIP, a 1.31 WHIP, a .291 BABIP, and middle of the pack K/9 with an 8.3. Jose Berrios and Chris Bassitt have been the standouts this season for the rotation. Berrios is 4-3 with a 3.64 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, and 92 strikeouts in 106.1 innings. Bassitt is 7-4 with a 4.29 ERA, a 1.36 WHIP, and 93 strikeouts in 94.1 innings. Kevin Gausman has struggled in stretches this season and is 6-6 with a 4.18 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and 93 strikeouts in 99 innings which is down for him.
This is where Toronto has shone, ranking tenth in baseball with a 3.68 ERA, 13th with a 3.82 FIP, third with a 1.19 WHIP, fourth in BABIP with a .268, and second with a 9.8 K/9. The bullpen has been led by Brendon Little, who posts a 2.11 ERA, a 2.41 FIP, and a 12.7 K/9. Jeff Hoffman was off to a hot start but has tapered off. This season he’s posting 4.84 ERA, a 4.19 FIP, and a 12.5 K/9.
The Toronto Blue Jays can very well lead the American League East by the All-Star break, even with a loss tomorrow. The upcoming schedule favors the Blue Jays as they face the Los Angeles Angels for three, Chicago White Sox for three, and then the Athletics for three to conclude the first half.
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