Blue Jays: Contenders or Pretenders?

With Maple Leafs news slowing down and the international football windows closed, I can now focus on the Blue Jays. Back in May, the Jays were in Tampa to face the Rays, and the mood surrounding the team was positive after sweeping the Padres in the previous series. However, the Rays dismantled the Jays in three games, outscoring them 19–2. That series made the fanbase feel like the Jays were showing their true colours — reverting to the inconsistent team we saw last season.

But since that Tampa series, Toronto has legitimately become one of the hottest teams in baseball. They took two of three games against the Rangers, followed by a four-game sweep of the Sacramento Athletics — a series in which Toronto scored 39 runs. Their winning ways continued as they hosted the Phillies and won that series 2–1. Toronto then headed to Minnesota for a crucial set, just half a game out of a wild-card spot at the time, and again won the series two games to one. Finally, they travelled to St. Louis and swept the Cardinals in three games.

During this stretch, Toronto has won its last five series and now holds a two-game cushion in the top Wild Card spot. So I ask: Are the Jays a legitimate playoff team? Will they become buyers at the trade deadline? Or is this just a temporary hot streak before reality sets in and they end up selling, as Jeff Passan believes?

In this run, the Jays rank in the top 10 both offensively and in pitching, which is impressive considering their rotation is hanging by a thread while we wait for Scherzer and Manoah to return. There's also hope that Bowden Francis can navigate the rough waters he’s currently in.

Toronto is getting production up and down the batting order, with a good portion coming from the bottom half. The usual suspects are contributing, and that’s with a lineup still missing Santander and Dalton Varsho. If those two return and can find their rhythm, this team could become even more dangerous.

The bullpen has also stepped up, ranking in the top ten, thanks to strong performances from Fluharty and Little. Rodriguez has become a reliable arm, and Hoffman has been solid in the closer role, collecting 17 saves so far this season.

Toronto now continues its road trip in Philadelphia for a rematch against the Phillies, beginning tonight with Kevin Gausman on the mound and Ranger Suárez starting for Philly. It should be interesting to see how this three-game set plays out for our Blue Jays.