What Is the Root of the Toronto Blue Jays’ 2024 Problems?
The Toronto Blue Jays appeared to be improving as a team entering the 2024 campaign after three seasons in a row with 89 or more victories. This was after the Blue Jays undertook an accelerated rebuild, during which they drafted and developed a number of players, including Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cavan Biggio, Danny Jansen, and others. However, the Blue Jays have had a sluggish start in their first 53 games this season during the first two months of 2024. After playing on Memorial Day yesterday, the Blue Jays sit in last place in the AL East with a 24-29 record and are 12 games behind the New York Yankees, who lead the AL East, and five games behind the last AL Wild Card slot. Following Charlie Montoyo's dismissal during the 2022 season, John Schneider, the manager of the Blue Jays, is in his second full season in charge after taking over for Montoyo. Given Toronto's dismal start to the season, Schneider has been believed to be on the hot seat. Additionally, should the Blue Jays fail to live up to their promise over the next two months, general manager Ross Atkins may find himself in a position to be a seller at this season's trade deadline.
The Blue Jays were starting a run of games where 19 of their next 23 games were against teams with a record below .500, after splitting a two-game series with the Baltimore Orioles in mid-May. However, the Blue Jays have not been able to take advantage of this "easy" stretch of games, going 5-6 so far. The Blue Jays have had a 10-19 record since April 23rd, which is second-worst only behind the Mets' 10-20 record in that same period. The Blue Jays' troubles throughout the first two months have been evident and have held back the roster, which is full of youthful talent, even though they defeated the White Sox 5-1 on Monday.
The decline in pitching performances from 2023 to this season has been a key contributing cause to the Blue Jays' inconsistency in 2024. The Blue Jays finished fourth in MLB with a team ERA of 3.78 last season, thanks to one of the game's strongest bullpens and pitching rotations. In addition to having the six-fewest runs allowed in the league, allowing just 671 runs, and finishing second in strikeouts with 1,528. Now, as we enter June at the end of the week, the Blue Jays are placed 24th in strikeouts and WHIP, have given up the third-most home runs, and have a 4.33 ERA, which is 22nd. Jordan Romano, the 2023 All-Star closer, has struggled to establish consistency on the field this season. In 14 games, he has a 6.39 ERA, down from his 2.90 ERA last season, during which he recorded 36 saves. In addition to Romano, starting pitchers Yusei Kikuchi, Chris Bassitt, and Alek Manoah have all struggled, with an ERA above three.
The Blue Jays' inability to coordinate their pitching and hitting to play effectively at the same time has resulted in a lack of productivity in the lineup, even on occasions when they have had strong pitching performances. The Blue Jays' all-or-nothing lineup strategy over the last week, which has seen them score nine or more runs four times and just two or fewer runs three times, has been a significant drawback. Heading into Tuesday's game, Bichette, Biggio, and veteran outfielder George Springer are most notable among six Blue Jays regular starters in the lineup with batting averages below .250. With their current lineup, the Blue Jays are ranked 20th in batting average, 22nd in home runs, 23rd in RBIs, and 19th in slugging percentage. In order to have a chance to make the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons, the Blue Jays will need to improve their at-bat performances and have reliable pitching outings that will enable them to stay in games and prevent errors in baserunning.
