Quiet bats, starter struggles have Blue Jays searching for answers
It perhaps speaks to the nature of the Toronto Blue Jays’ disappointing year that arguably the team’s most memorable highlight was delivered by a prospect in a pre-season game.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a walkoff homer in a 1-0 win over St. Louis in March in Montreal, the city where his father played eight seasons of his Hall of Fame career. The magical moment left Toronto fans salivating for the future.
As for the present, there has been little to cheer about.
The Blue Jays have struggled in most facets of the game and start a six-game homestand Tuesday with a 26-33 record, good for fourth place in the American League East.
It’s still fairly early in the 162game season, but teams usually have a good idea of what they’re made of once the two-month mark of the campaign rolls around.
At the moment, Toronto looks like it has a better chance of finishing in the league basement than it does of earning a wildcard spot.
The starting rotation that was expected to be the team’s strong point has largely been a bust. The bullpen already is showing signs of overuse. The bats have been way too quiet.
Starter Aaron Sanchez has battled control issues, but at least had a promising start in a win in Detroit on Sunday. Meanwhile, Marcus Stroman is sidelined with shoulder woes and both Marco Estrada and Jaime Garcia have bloated earned-run averages.
Only J.A. Happ is enjoying a decent campaign among the fulltime starting staff, fuelling speculation he could be on the move as the trade deadline approaches.
The Blue Jays looked like potential contenders after posting a 15-10 record in April. Most of that optimism was snuffed by a dismal 9-19 May.
Toronto, 1-6 on its last homestand, is coming off a 3-6 road swing and has a key stretch of games against American League East rivals on tap.
The powerhouse New York Yankees will visit Rogers Centre for a pair of games, followed by Baltimore for four games and then a three-game visit to Tampa. The lowly Orioles and slumping Rays could be just what Toronto needs to kickstart a return to form.
The offence needs to find its rhythm for the Blue Jays to have any hope of playing meaningful baseball through the summer.
Entering Monday’s games, Toronto was 14th in the 15-team American League with a .229 team average. Only three AL teams have struck out more often than the Blue Jays (525), who are tied for 12th with a .309 team onbase percentage.
There have been a few bright spots this season.
Off-season acquisition Yangervis Solarte leads the club with 12 homers and 36 RBIs. Teoscar Hernandez looks like the real deal at the plate and Justin Smoak is on track for a solid year.
However, too many players are underperforming. Randal Grichuk has nine hits in 28 games and Devon Travis is batting .200. Kendrys Morales has four homers this season and Russell Martin is batting .174.
Josh Donaldson’s contract year started with a stint on the disabled list for a shoulder problem and he’s back on the DL now with a calf issue. The veteran slugger has five homers in 36 games along with a .234 average.
There are also signs that frustration is setting in. Manager John Gibbons has been unusually curt with reporters on occasion and skipped his post-game availability entirely after a fifth straight loss on Saturday in Detroit.
Injuries have helped expose the Blue Jays’ lack of depth in some areas. And closer Roberto Osuna, who’s facing an assault charge, remains on MLB administrative leave.