The post-All-Star break Toronto Blue Jays have been nothing short of mediocre as far as division-leading standards go.
Heading into September, Manager John Schneider and his group had one goal in mind: to maintain the top spot in the American League heading into the playoffs. Despite a couple of tough losses, Schneider made it known that he still trusts his team moving forward.
“I’m never going to doubt the guys,” Schneider told reporters.
Entering a series against the Cincinnati Reds, the focus for the Blue Jays was to take at least two of three games to ensure that they didn’t lose any ground to the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, both of whom trailed them by less than five games in the standings.
Things didn’t get off to the start the Jays wanted, as the Reds maintained a steady two-run lead into the seventh inning, until Alejandro Kirk drove in Bo Bichette to make it a one-run game. After two home runs in the ninth inning from Dalton Varsho and Bo Bichette to take a four-to-two lead, the Reds beat the Jays in walk-off fashion.
After winning the next two games of the series in two high-scoring affairs, the same glaring issues still lingered for the Jays.
It looked as though Toronto had the most efficient bullpen in the American League, with fresh faces like Mason Fluharty, Jeff Hoffman and Brendan Little providing numerous dominant outings to help an already explosive offensive team.
Since the All-Star break, that same bullpen has become a shadow of itself. Players like Hoffman had turned a once-dominant campaign into a lousy 4.58 ERA season.
With injuries to pitchers like Yimi Garcia and players being sent down to AAA Buffalo, the Jays need a hero immediately if they have any hope of making a push come playoff time.
Despite acquiring highly touted relievers at the trade deadline, looming questions remain on how much trust the coaching staff can put into their bullpen. Louis Varland, a high-velocity right-hander, came to the Jays at the deadline as a consistent, high-leverage guy who could give Toronto some extra depth down the line. However, Varland has not played to the standard he had been showing on his previous team in the Minnesota Twins.
On the bright side, former Baltimore Orioles righty Seranthony Domínguez has proven that he can be thrown in during clutch situations with his strike zone-pounding fastball.
Now with former Cy Young-winning pitcher Shane Bieber on the roster, John Schneider decided to move Eric Lauer to the bullpen in to keep a five-man starting pitching rotation. Lauer, who had come out of nowhere as one of the Jays’ best starting pitchers, looks to embrace his new role moving forward.
Schneider commented on the move, stating that it was best for the team.
“He definitely didn’t pitch his way out of the rotation,” said Schneider.
As the regular season comes to an end, the anticipation for who gets to start in the first playoff game becomes more intriguing.
After a series against the Houston Astros, the Blue Jays’ remaining games all fell under the blanket of division rivals.
On the other side of the ball, the Blue Jays’ offence has been regaining its early-season magic after the offensive beatdowns on the Reds. Schneider credits his entire roster for the all-around performance with the bat, with an emphasis on the guys at the top of the order who need to step up for them to continue winning.
Schneider weighed in on Bo Bichette’s approach at the plate as something to look forward to as the playoffs draw near.
“He’s locked in. He’s taking really good swings, he’s making good decisions at what he’s swinging at,”
As of Sept. 4, Bichette is both top five in batting average and number one in hits within the majors,.
Though the bottom of the lineup has been doing its job all year round, guys like George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have been putting together amazing 2025 campaigns. Schneider had especially good things to say about Springer, who has played his best statistical season since becoming a Blue Jay back in 2021.
“He can kinda put the team on his back,” said Schneider.
Much like his teammate Bichette, Springer stands amongst the top players in the American League in both batting average (3.07 as of Sept. 4th) and hits. The 35-year-old also leads his team in home runs (27) and ops. (.956 as of Sept. 4th), surpassing his last year’s home run total by eight already.
With little time before the postseason begins, many have their eyes on Guerrero. After signing his monumental contract earlier in the year, Vladdy quietly created an impressive season for himself. Before injuring his hamstring in August, Guerrero had been dominant, finally playing how Blue Jay fans wanted since the beginning of the year. Though he struggled coming off his leg injury, it looks as though he’s found his stride with six hits in the series against the Reds.
Though still only a couple of games above the Yankees and Red Sox, the Blue Jays have proven over the course of the year that they are a resilient team that never seems to be out of a game.
If everything goes to plan, Toronto could be seeing the return of slugger Anthony Santander to the lineup after a shoulder injury sidelined him for several months. Regardless of how his season was trending pre-injury, Santander has proven that he can be one of the most dangerous switch-hitters in the league.