The previous 1.5 months of Blue Jays baseball have appeared like a ship full of holes. It feels as if as quickly as one weak point is patched up, one other rears its ugly head once more. As quickly because it appears 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 monitor, the offense disappears once more. Regardless of all of this inconsistency, the Blue Jays maintain a document of 22-24 as we attain Victoria Day. It’s removed from good or best, however with the American League Wild Card enjoying out because it has to this point, the Jays are nonetheless closely in competition for a postseason berth. A couple 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 handle the dearth of manufacturing within the type of Anthony Santander. A switch-hitter coming off a season the place he slugged 44 house runs with a WRC+ of 129 felt like an ideal match for this lineup. Nevertheless, by means of 46 video games, it has not been as seamless a transition to Toronto as Santander would have possible needed. Presently, 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 prime of that, Santander is a internet unfavorable defensively, so if he’s going to take part as a DH, he must be in a position to seek 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 desires for him.
With all that in thoughts, the Blue Jays may use an alternate choice 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 at the moment, 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 advised his profession was near being all however over. Nevertheless, Springer shouldn’t be enjoying on an on a regular basis foundation, and whilst you hope Nathan Lukes’ breakout marketing campaign continues, it will 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 lately, it appears just like the Jays favor him at 3B.
In any case, if the Blue Jays need to preserve tempo inside their division, not solely will they want Santander to return to the shape they anticipated of him, however they may also require some outdoors 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 obtained credit score for. Maybe the shine doesn’t get utilized as a lot when the workforce nonetheless loses on the finish of the day, however followers would unanimously agree that the pitching workers has been probably the most constant side of the Blue Jays workforce over the previous 4–5 years. The place it has lacked totally is the depth within the rotation once 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 probably the most surprising factor on this planet to see him go down with an damage so early. Nevertheless, the group has persistently 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 had been finally signed, however to not have this obtrusive want addressed going into the season is frankly unacceptable for a workforce 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 this planet for this workforce. 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 fairly penny, and will nonetheless present a big influence that would increase not solely the efficiency of the pitching workers, however its versatility as properly.
The Jays’ rotation shouldn’t be as shutdown or as star-studded as you’d count on from a contender just like the Phillies or Dodgers, however with just a few easy tweaks, it may find yourself changing into simpler than the place they began.
A few of the most spectacular enhancements the Blue Jays have constituted of final season have been with their bullpen. Granted, it isn’t a excessive bar to achieve after their bullpen was price -3.0 WAR final season, however the additions to this point have gone exceptionally properly. Jeff Hoffman has carried out like an absolute shutdown nearer, Yimi Garcia has been price each penny of that $7.5M deal, and center reduction choices like Nick Sandlin, Brendon Little, and Mason Fluharty have all accomplished properly when wholesome. Nevertheless, they don’t seem to be good, as lately each Hoffman and Garcia went by means of stretches the place they may not get an out to avoid wasting their lives. This will be partially blamed on each the offense not with the ability to produce sufficient, the place each recreation is shut, or not having the beginning pitching depth high quality to stop the bullpen from getting used early.
Both approach, 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 really need to guarantee every part is unfold properly, it appears like yet one more key reduction arm is lacking. It doesn’t need to 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 obtainable relievers. Maybe a unique strategy 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 type of expertise and flexibility inside the bullpen permits for a number of arms to tackle totally different roles, but in addition extra bullpen choices to make use of normally, thus giving extra excessive leverage choices time to relaxation and turn into simpler extra ceaselessly.
Even when the choices aren’t as high-leverage as a Bednar or Finnegan, bringing the bullpen some assist to offer them a break will probably be key if the Jays have any postseason hopes.
