How the 2026 Blue Jays Can Redeem Their 2025 World Series Loss After the All-Star Break
It’s no secret that the current Toronto Blue Jays aren’t performing at the level that led them to the World Series last year, and fans are hoping this well-needed MLB All-Star Break can turn things around. Ernie Clement, Louis Varland, Dylan Cease, manager John Schneider, and Toronto’s entire coaching staff spent the beginning of the week in Philadelphia, where they won the MLB All-Star Game. While these players are clearly doing well this year, hopefully playing with and coaching the best of the best gave them some new ideas to bring back to their struggling team. As for the rest of the Jays, one can only hope that a week of rest was exactly what they needed.
Your Best Players Need to Be Your Best Players
Despite what the 45-51 record shows, the Blue Jays are better built for a World Series than last year. However, they also still have the phenomenal talent that got them to Game Seven. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a six-time all-star, a two-time Silver Slugger, a Gold Glove Award winner, a Home Run Derby Champion, an ALCS MVP, and an All-Star Game MVP, but he’s not living up to his proven potential this year. The 27-year-old’s highest batting average was an astonishing .401, which he led the league in 2021. That year, while still admirable, his average was .262. The first baseman is known for his extra-base hits. He led the MLB with 48 home runs and also posted a 1.002 OPS to lead the American League. Halfway into 2026, Guerrero has just six home runs, but still maintains a .703 OPS. With 88 hits and 42 walks, he has no trouble getting on base, but Toronto needs those extra bases from him. In 2025, the former Home Run Derby Champion tied for the all-time most postseason homers with eight. The 2025 ALCS MVP needs his power back. With all of Toronto’s injuries to start the season, he was most likely overcompensating for what the team was missing. However, with only a few key players left to heal, Guerrero needs to get back to what he’s good at instead of trying to be someone he’s not.
Start with Starting Pitching
Toronto’s starting pitching rotation has been a mess this year. Starting with many injuries, including Trey Yesavage and Shane Bieber, who are both now back in the rotation. In addition, José Berríos was supposed to be on a similar timeline to them but ended up needing Tommy John surgery and will not return this season. Cody Ponce was an important offseason move by the Jays before he sprained his ACL during his first start of the season. Finally, Max Scherzer has been on and off the IL all year and is currently dealing with back spasms. After the all-star break, the rotation is expected to include Yesavage, Bieber, Cease, Kevin Gausman, and recent bullpen graduate Spencer Miles. While Cease is having an all-star season, Yesavage, Bieber, and Gausman all have their unique struggles. Miles has had a breakout year, leading fans and coaches alike to wonder if stretching the rookie reliever to a starting position would be worth it. After being the center of many successful bullpen days and a few outright starts, it seems the 25-year-old will officially be a part of the rotation. Even if this addition is successful, it wouldn’t be the starting rotation Toronto imagined for its World Series redemption. However, with the trade deadline coming up, the Jays have the chance to make a crucial move to turn their season around. There haven’t been many rumours about who they might go after, but if they play their cards right, one roster move could take them back to the World Series.
