Stretch-run questions: What do Blue Jays, AL rivals need to do to contend?

The Major League Baseball commerce deadline mud has settled and it’s time to change focus to the playoff chase. 

With two months to go and no group holding greater than a two-game lead for any one of many three divisions, there are nonetheless loads of questions to contemplate as American League groups jockey for playoff seeding and spots.  

With that in thoughts, we figured it prudent to flag a handful of issues to control in August and September as we kind out which groups can be taking part in October baseball. 

Can the underperforming Blue Jays bats come alive? 

If there was one aspect of the Jays you might rely on the previous couple years, it’s been the explosive offence. In 2021, Toronto completed third in MLB with 5.22 runs-per-game and final season the Jays ranked fourth (4.78). Fast ahead to 2023 and, getting into Thursday’s collection finale with the American League East-leading Baltimore Orioles, the Jays sit 15^th in runs-per-game with 4.50. 

Obviously, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and his sub-.800 OPS is the primary participant you’ll spotlight to underscore the underwhelming outcomes. George Springer acquired his first hit since July 22 in Wednesday evening’s win over the O’s, however his monumental struggles on the plate this season have been nicely documented. Springer’s .316 on-base share is the worst of his 10-year profession. First-year Jay Daulton Varsho clubbed 27 homers for the Arizona Diamondbacks final yr; he’ll do nicely to get to twenty this season. 

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Toronto opted for arms and defence on the deadline, so no one is parachuting in to assist this scuffling offence. That mentioned, there’s nonetheless loads of season to go for the struggling Jays to seek out their stroke. 

Which Texas group picked up the fitting old-man pitcher? 

By most accounts, it doesn’t sound like 40-year-old Justin Verlander and 39-year-old Max Scherzer are precisely thick as thieves once they share a clubhouse. The pair, after all, spent numerous time collectively carrying the uniform of the Detroit Tigers and had been reunited this season when Verlander joined the New York Mets on a monster free agent deal. Then the video games had been performed, the free-spending Mets cratered and Scherzer wound up on the Texas Rangers earlier than the Mets dealt Verlander again to the Houston Astros squad he’s gained two World Series with. 

That upped the ante on a scrumptious intra-state AL West pennant race, because the Rangers at the moment maintain a half-game benefit on the Astros. You must admire the previous’s all-in mentality, as Texas — upon shedding one other former Mets hurler, Jacob deGrom, for the season — went out and blew extra powder on Scherzer. Houston, in the meantime, is getting a identified amount in Verlander, who began gradual in Queens however had an earned-run common of 1.94 in his previous 9 begins with New York. 

As for Scherzer, he has allowed extra loud contact this yr than earlier seasons and in the event you scrub the weird, pandemic-shortened 2020 marketing campaign, his 1.19 WHIP is increased than he’s completed any yr at since 2012. 

Can Julio Rodriguez cue a Mariners rise? 

The 2022 AL rookie of the yr has been dinged by a sophomore hunch in 2023, however there are indicators Julio Rodriguez is coming to life. Seattle’s star centre fielder is using an 11-game hitting streak and has walloped 4 dwelling runs throughout that stretch.  

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Seattle, in the meantime, is 17-10 since July 1 and simply took two of three from a Boston Red Sox group instantly in entrance of it within the wild-card race. The Mariners sit 3.5 video games again of Toronto for the ultimate post-season berth. 

Will the Angels’ about-face repay? 

For some time, all of us dreamed a couple of Shohei Ohtani commerce that may rock the deadline. With Ohtani certain totally free company and the Angels very a lot on the perimeter of the wild-card race, we assumed they may increase the white flag in Orange County and promote — amongst different items — the singular expertise in the midst of their lineup and the highest of their pitching employees. 

But even with the spectre of Ohtani leaving this winter, Anaheim declared its shopping for intentions a number of days forward of the deadline and spent not-insignificant prospect capital to amass pitchers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez from the Chicago White Sox, in addition to first baseman C.J. Cron and outfielder Randal Grichuk from the Colorado Rockies. 

Mike Trout — who had wrist surgical procedure in early July — ought to return within the again half of August. 

Still, the Angels sit 4 video games again of the Jays for the ultimate wild-card spot and must soar 4 groups — together with Toronto — to get that coveted final berth.

Is good well being actually sufficient for the stand-pat Red Sox? 

At the start of July, it appeared believable the Red Sox can be deadline sellers. But Boston went 16-5 from June 30 to July 28 to develop into patrons — or so one might need assumed. The Sox mainly stayed quiet on the deadline regardless of being the group closest to the Jays within the wild-card chase. And whereas some followers have their pitchforks out, the rationale of the baseball operations employees is clearly that Boston will get a lift from the return of vital gamers on the injured record. 

The Sox have kind of been going with a three-man rotation for a month, however that can change when Chris Sale, Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck return to the rotation sooner or later in August. (Of course, how lengthy the oft-injured Sale stays wholesome is one other query altogether.)

Meanwhile, shortstop Trevor Story — who has not performed a Major League recreation this season after elbow surgical procedure within the low season — is nearing the top of a rehab project and may bolster the center of the infield and possibly even the center of the lineup too, if he can get his timing down. 

Does anybody wish to win the AL Central? 

It’s not day by day you see a membership inside placing distance of a division title dispatch one in every of its greatest starters — particularly one with three years to go earlier than hitting free company — and an on a regular basis first baseman on the deadline. And but, that’s precisely what the Cleveland Guardians did once they shipped out Aaron Civale and Josh Bell, regardless of sitting simply two video games again of the Minnesota Twins for the Central lead. 

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CHOOSE PLAN

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The Twins, in the meantime, had been begging for a bat that would assist them scratch out some extra runs. And whereas, by all accounts, they kicked tires fairly arduous on some righties, Minnesota should make due with an offence that ranks 19^th in runs-per-game at 4.37. 

A basement within the Bronx? 

From 1987 by 1992, the Yankees by no means completed any increased than fourth within the AL East. In the 30-plus years since, they’ve by no means completed final within the division and completed second-last simply as soon as.  

So right here we sit, with the brittle, lumbering Pinstripes nonetheless within the playoff chase, but in addition within the East cellar and, at 56-52, inside vary of their first shedding season since their 76-86 marketing campaign in ’92. 

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