Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Image: Blue Jays)
The Toronto Blue Jays are in first place in the AL East and have the best record in baseball.
Toronto finished the 2024 season with a 74-88 record, placing last in the AL East.
The Blue Jays made limited moves in the offseason, highlighted by extending star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a 14-year $500 million contract. Toronto also re-signed reliever Jeff Hoffman and signed right fielder Anthony Santander, and future first-ballot Hall of Fame pitcher Max Scherzer.
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Toronto also made a big push to sign Nippon Professional Baseball star pitcher Roki Sasaki. Toronto made a trade to acquire additional international pool money in hopes of being the top bidder, but Sasaki ultimately chose to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Blue Jays have one of the best offenses in baseball this season, led by Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, George Springer and Alejandro Kirk.
Toronto has the best batting average, on-base percentage, and the fewest number of strikeouts this season. Toronto is in the top 10 for slugging percentage and RBIs, but is in the bottom half of the league for home runs.
The pitching unit for Toronto has been inconsistent, led by Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Eric Lauer, and Chris Bassitt.
The Blue Jays are in the top three for strikeouts, and the top 10 for batting average allowed, walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP). However, the Blue Jays are in the bottom half of the league for ERA and the bottom five for home runs allowed.
Even with the pitching inconsistencies, Toronto’s defense is one of the best in baseball. That, combined with a potent offense, is a key reason why the Blue Jays have the best record in the league.
With the trade deadline on July 30, Toronto may look to add pitching help, with Pittsburgh Pirates starter Mitch Keller being a name to look out for.
Toronto is poised to make the postseason. With a 5½ game lead over the second-place Yankees and the best overall record in baseball, it would take a second-half disaster for Toronto to miss the postseason entirely.
Toronto is in a fantastic spot to make the postseason, as its odds are -5000. Toronto’s odds of winning the American League are +425, and its odds of winning the World Series are +1300.
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