The Toronto Blue Jays suffered tremendous heartbreak last year as they came one game short of winning their first World Series in 32 years.
During what could be described as a magical summer, the Blue Jays, who found themselves struggling with a record in late May below .500, caught fire and went on to post a 94-68 record to successfully win the AL East Division.
That magical ride continued into the fall as the Blue Jays, who had all of Canada rooting for them, needed only four games to defeat their arch divisional rivals, New York Yankees in the American League Division Series, before pulling out a Game 7 ALCS win against the Seattle Mariners in advancing to the World Series.
Unfortunately for Jays fans, there would be no World Series parade as Toronto lost a heartbreaking Game 7 nailbiter which went 11 innings before the Los Angeles Dodgers at Rogers Stadium won their second straight World Series with a 5-4 win.
FanDuel has the Blue Jays O/U projected win total at 88.5 for 2026. They can exceed that number, win the division and compete for the World Series.
2026 Toronto Blue Jays O/U: Why the Toronto Blue Jays Can Win the World Series
Blue Jays OffSeason AdditionsÂ
Toronto made a lot of key off-season moves including signing prized free-agent strikeout pitcher Dylan Cease to a seven-year $210 million dollar contract.
Last season with the San Diego Padres, Cease recorded 215 strikeouts, making it five straight seasons he has recorded over 200 strikeouts.
In adding more pitching depth, the Jays also signed pitcher Cody Ponce, who is coming off a dominating season with the Hanwha Eagles, where he went 17-1 with a 1.89 ERA and 252 strikeouts in winning the KBO MVP Award.
Ponce, who pitched at one time for the Pittsburgh Pirates, agreed with Toronto to a three-year, 30 million-dollar deal.
The Jays also improved their bullpen depth by adding former New York Mets side-arm reliever Tyler Rogers to a 3-year $37 million dollar deal. Last season, Rogers went 4-6 with a 1.98 ERA.
Offensively, the Blue Jays added more power to an already lethal batting lineup with the addition of third baseman Kazuma Okamoto, who, over 11 seasons with the NPB’s Yomiuri Giants, sported a career OPS near .900 while mashing over 214 home runs. Okamoto signed a four-year, $60 million contract with the Jays.
Off-Season Departures
Not returning to the Blue Jays this season are starting pitcher Chris Bassitt (signed with Baltimore Orioles), relief pitcher Seranthony Dominguez (signed with Chicago White Sox), infielder Bo Bichette (signed with New York Mets), infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa (signed with Boston Red Sox) and first baseman Ty France (Signed with San Diego Padres).
Blue Jays Starting Rotation
When healthy, the Blue Jays have arguably the best starting rotation in their division.
Heading into spring training the starting rotation was scheduled to be veteran Kevin Gausman (10-11 last year with a 3.59 ERA and 189 strikeouts) followed by Cease (8-12 last year with a 4.55 ERA and 215 strikeouts), Jose Berrios (9-5 last year with a 4.17 ERA and 138 strikeouts), Shane Bieber (4-2 last year in seven starts, 3.57 ERA, 37 strikeouts), Trey Yesavage (1-0 last year in three starts, 3.21 ERA and 16 strikeouts) and finally Ponce (17-1, last year 1.89 ERA and 252 strikeouts with the Eagles.
Also coming back for another year is 41 year-old future Hall of Fame starting pitcher Max Scherzer who last year in an injury riddled season went 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA and 82 strikeouts.
Unfortunately for Blue Jays fans, injuries have hit the pitching staff as Berrios will be sidelined to start the season with a stress fracture in his elbow while Bieber will start the season on the IL with forearm fatigue and Yesavage, who made such a big splash last year, will also start the season on the IL with a shoulder issue.
Blue Jays Offense
The Blue Jays offence took a major hit when Bichette, who for years was a catalyst for the team’s offense, signed as a free agent with the Mets.
Still, the Jays have a dangerous line-up with first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (23 HR, 84 RBI’s last season), Okamoto, outfielder Addison Barger (21 HR, 74 RBI’s last season) and outfielder/DH George Springer (32 HR, 84 RBI’s last season) to name a few.
All through the batting order, Toronto has scrappy hitters such as Ernie Clement and Andres Gimenez who work the count and provide speed. They also have some more power in catcher Alejandro Kirk and Daulton Varsho who has been known to get his fair share of clutch hits.
Prediction For The Blue Jays
Everyone knows that exceptional pitching, which the Jays have, is needed to win.
The Jays have an upcoming star in Barger who this season should reach the 30-home run, 100-RBI mark.
Besides quality pitching, exceptional defense is needed to win and that’s exactly what Toronto has with the likes of 2022 Gold Glove winner, Guerrero, three time Gold Glove winner, Gimenez, 2022 Gold Glove winner, Varsho, and outfielder Myles Straw who back in 2022 with the Cleveland Indians won his first Gold Glove for center field.
After coming so agonizing close last year, this team and city is more hungry than ever for a World Series. If Bieber, Yesavage and Berrios all come back with no ill effects from their injuries and if the offence run on all cylinders than expect the Jays to finish with about 92 wins.
They will once again win with the AL East division and if everyone is healthy and are playing up to their capabilities, have a great chance at this time winning the World Series.
Main Image: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
