Expectations for the Blue Jays were exceptionally high heading into 2026 after the team came one win shy of a third World Series title. But thanks to a slump in June, the Blue Jays slipped below .500 and out of a playoff spot for now. And if the Blue Jays want to get back into a spot, the club will need help from several players who had down first halves.
The Offense
| Stat | Number | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Runs Scored | 392 | t-26th |
| Home Runs | 98 | t-23rd |
| OPS | .690 | t-26th |
| Whiff% | 23.2 | 4th |
| Hard Hit% | 35.5 | 28th |
The Pitching
| Stat | Number | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Starters’ ERA | 4.45 | 21st |
| Relievers’ ERA | 3.80 | 10th |
| Strikeouts | 849 | 8th |
| Whiff% | 26.1 | 8th |
| Chase% | 31.8 | 7th |
The Good
Toronto’s offseason acquisitions have been among the most productive players on the 2026 team.
Kazuma Okamoto, replacing Bo Bichette‘s presence in the Blue Jays’ lineup, hit 22 home runs to finish in a tie for 10th in the Majors. Needless to say, Okamoto didn’t have much of a problem adjusting to MLB pitching, as he was the best run producer for Toronto.
Jesus Sanchez, acquired amidst a need for a left-handed bat late in the offseason, had seven home runs and 21 extra-base hits over 234 plate appearances.
And while Brandon Valenzuela wasn’t acquired over the winter, the ex-Padres catching prospect hit seven home runs before the break and helped fill out the Toronto lineup while Alejandro Kirk was on the injured list.
As for the pitching staff, the Blue Jays paid Dylan Cease like an ace in November 2026 when Toronto gave him a seven-year deal to make him one of the highest-paid pitchers in the game. How did Cease follow that contract up? Cease struck out 148 batters over 98.1 IP, second-most in the Majors behind only Jacob Misiorowski.
Sure, the Blue Jays have had to deal with walks, which are inevitably part of Cease’s game. But in terms of swing-and-miss, very few pitchers rival Cease.
Tyler Rogers, meanwhile, posted a 1.65 ERA and has turned into a key weapon in the Blue Jays’ bullpen alongside now-closer Louis Varland. Varland, acquired last summer from the Twins, assumed the role after early-season struggles from Jeff Hoffman.
The Bad
Overall, the pitching staff has been fine. However, not everything has been on the up and up.
Trey Yesavage posted a sub-4.00 ERA in the first half of what is his first full MLB season. The problem is that Yesavage has flirted with danger at points. His 4.68 BB/9 was the 11th-highest among starting pitchers with 50+ IP this season. Toronto had a second in the top 11, although the other (Simeon Woods Richardson) only spent a part of the year with the Jays.
Kevin Gausman, meanwhile, posted a 4.33 ERA and struck out 116 over 122 IP. You can’t argue that Gausman was BABIP’d (.298), as the right-hander conceded 15 home runs over 112 IP.
This has been another year with the Blue Jays needing to scramble to fill out the rotation. While Gausman and Yesavage, the latter of whom started the year on the IL, have been reliable, Toronto saw Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer miss significant time on the injured list.
Scherzer, who posted a 10.23 ERA in the first half, only threw 22 innings this season. The future Hall of Famer was limited due to injury.
As for the offense, it’s been a down season for both George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Guerrero Jr., who is in the first year of that mega-extension he signed last year, ranked 132nd in the league in wOBA (.312) among hitters with 250+ plate appearances.
The Blue Jays’ first baseman hit just two home runs between May and June. He popped two home runs in July before the break.
Looking Ahead
Like the Orioles, the Blue Jays are in the AL Wild Card playoff race as the second half begins. However, the Blue Jays will need the big guns to show up.
That is obvious. However, how will this team hold up in the second half? Vladimir Guerrero Jr. pulled out of the All-Star Game to heal after he was battered and bruised over the first half. How can he provide moving forward?
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