It has been a long season for Blue Jays fans watching the Jays struggle to find consistency in their game, but they have started to turn things around at the best time.
With September underway and the playoff race tightening, the Blue Jays are making a late push for the American League wild card. Toronto currently sits one game back of the final wild card spot, making every game important as the regular season winds down. The resurgence became noticeable in August as the Jays finished the month with a 17-11 record, posting one of their strongest months of the season. As a team they had a .256 batting average and scored 115 runs, with both being their second highest totals in a month this season.
After spending much of the season struggling to generate consistent offence, Toronto’s bats are finally starting to come alive. The team’s improved production, combined with strong pitching performances, has given the Blue Jays a chance to remain in the playoff conversation. A major reason for that success has been the team’s pitching staff.
Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease has been one of Toronto’s most reliable pitchers during the season and late playoff push. One of the frontrunners for the Cy Young has posted a 2.01 ERA with 43 strikeouts, giving the Blue Jays a dependable arm whenever he takes the mound. His ability to limit opposing offences with his swing and miss pitching will become an important asset as Toronto enters a September schedule filled with games against teams fighting for playoff opportunities.
Blue Jays closer Louis Varland has also been an important piece of the pitching staff. Varland has posted a 2.13 ERA and has recorded seven saves throughout the month of August. Varland’s increased velocity and his new changeup have been giving Toronto another reliable option in later innings. His ability to close out tight games has helped the Blue Jays turn strong performance into meaningful wins.
Toronto has also received a boost from several players up and down the lineup who have found their rhythm at the plate.
Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk has finally found life in his bat after returning from injury in June. Kirk has posted a .341 batting average, along with five home runs and 20 RBIs throughout the month. His recent offensive production has given the Blue Jays another dangerous option in the heart of their lineup. If Kirk can continue his recent offensive success, the Blue Jays will be put in a great position to make the wild card.
Rookie outfielder Brett Bateman has also quickly become an important part of the team’s recent success since being acquired at the trade deadline. Bateman has posted a .217 batting average while making an impact with his fielding and exceptional baserunning. Bateman’s all around play has helped cement him as the Blue Jays leadoff hitter and has given the lineup another way to create scoring opportunities.
The Blue Jays have shown that they can compete with some of the teams around them in the standings. Toronto picked up an important win against the Kansas City Royals and recently swept the Seattle Mariners in a three game series, outscoring them 19-4, ending their August push. With September underway, the Jays have had a 2-1 series win over the Guardians and the Royals. They have just had a 2-1 series loss to the Athletics and look to pick up on this recent success throughout the last month of the regular season as they take on the Baltimore Orioles.
Those wins are exactly what Toronto will need more in September. With the wild card race remaining close, there is little room for the Blue Jays to be dropping games, especially when competing teams are just as close as they are. However, one major question remains: can Vladimir Guerrero Jr. find his true game?
As a superstar, Vladdy is one of the faces of the Blue Jays, but his production has not been at the level many Toronto fans have become accustomed to seeing. In August he had a .221 batting average, one home run and four RBIs. While August hasn’t been the strongest of months for the superstar first baseman, he has started off September with one home run and six RBIs in three games. For a player of Guerrero’s caliber, you can expect to see him ramp up with this last month of season, like how he did throughout the Jays playoff run last season.
Toronto has done the hard part by putting themselves back into playoff conversations. Now with the final month of the regular season here and October baseball just around the corner, the Blue Jays need their pitching to remain strong and their hitters to continue producing the way Toronto fans know they can. The wild card is still within reach, with the question being: can the Blue Jays finish the job?