2021 Blue Jays Still Finding New Heights

Bo Bichette danced off first base as Vlad Guerrero Jr. scraped his cleats into the batters’ box dirt. Toronto's first basemen blurred the line of chalk behind him before watching four straight Trevor Rogers deliveries miss the zone.

Rogers has been dominant this season — with a 1.87 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 81.2 innings he is an early favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year. But just two pitches after Guerrero’s walk, Bichette crossed home plate, Teoscar Hernández contorted his body to avoid a tag at second base, and Guerrero dove safely back into third.

Even worse, Rogers was then tasked with facing Toronto’s lauded free agent addition with two runners in scoring position. A George Springer RBI groundout later, and the Blue Jays cashed more runs in Wednesday’s first inning than Miami’s starter has let up in nine of 14 starts.

When these Blue Jays are at full strength, they can handle any team in baseball. The lineup overcame a locating Sandy Alcantara Tuesday and chased Rogers tonight. Robbie Ray delivered six innings of one-run ball in the latest effective outing from a stabilized rotation, Toronto’s bullpen delivered three scoreless innings for the second night in a row.

Toronto has the second-best offense in baseball, despite missing their $150 million free agent for most of the season. They have the sixth lowest ERA in the American League, despite an ailing bullpen. And they sit two games over .500, despite a 6-9 record in one-run games. The Blue Jays’ 2021 season has had its share of letdowns and flaws, but right now the ceiling of this team has never been as clear — and it’s high.

“Now is the time for the Blue Jays to go in the right direction because we’re starting to get a lot of guys back," Hernandez said. "This is the time.”

With a full count and firemen warming in the bullpen, Ray delivered a 95-MPH fastball in on Jesus Sanchez for his sixth strikeout of the night. Ray grunted as he released the ball and skipped off the rubber as his pitch found Riley Adams’ glove. The lefty starter wasn’t flawless, allowing another home run and some hard contact as the game went one, but the quality start was his ninth of the season. Ray has cemented himself as the clear second option in a Blue Jays rotation that has the fourth best xFIP in the American League and regularly gives the team a chance to win.

"The deeper we can get, all four, five starters we have," Ray said. "The less stress it puts on the bullpen."

In the second inning, Ray dropped a sacrifice to push Cavan Biggio to second. The bunt was the second out of the inning, but it set up a late rally where Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette worked the bases loaded. A 100 MPH rocket off the bat of Guerrero ultimately ended the threat, but Toronto jumped early on a starter who some of Major League Baseball’s best lineups have struggled against all year.

When Toronto’s starter allows a lone run the offense’s job is easy, but the lineup is still the scariest part of this Blue Jays team. They have the luxury of hitting three-time All Star Springer in the five-hole and the privilege of slotting Guerrero Jr.’s MVP season in the heart of the order.

Toronto’s lineup is as deep as it’s been in some time leaving just the bullpen and team defense as the only question marks on the team. They are the clear weaknesses, but they’re areas the Blue Jays have admitted they are willing and looking to improve.

“We’re playing good defence, we’re gonna swing the bats, our starters have been outstanding,” Montoyo said. “If our bullpen does their job we’re gonna win some games.”

Outings like Wednesday, where every facet of Toronto’s game converges in harmony, should remind the Blue Jays exactly what this team is capable of, and the investment it deserves.