Jays Relying On Young Roster To Get Over 75.5 Wins

The Toronto Blue Jays are one of the most promising teams in the major leagues with expectations and excitement mounting by the day. Hitters like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and Cavan Biggio indicate that there’s a bright future in Toronto but the question is what will they produce in 2020?

Last season, the Blue Jays struggled to find quality starting pitchers, utilizing 21 different hurlers to start games in 2019. That was one of the key factors in the team finishing with just 67 wins – the fourth-fewest in the American League. They’re now favoring a regular season win total of 75.5, but can they get over the number in 2020?

TORONTO BLUE JAYS ODDS

TO WIN WORLD SERIES:  +10000
TO WIN AL PENNANT: +500
REGULAR SEASON WIN TOTAL: 75.5

OFFSEASON CHANGES

The Blue Jays prized offseason acquisition was the signing of free-agent hurler Hyun-Jin Ryu. The Blue Jays inked the former Dodgers pitcher to a four-year, $80 million dollar pact and he instantly becomes the staff ace. Last season, Ryu finished second on National League Cy Young voting thanks in part to an impressive 2.32 earned run average. Along with Ryu, the Blue Jays also signed veteran pitcher Tanner Roark, Shun Yamaguchi, Rafael Dolis and infielder Travis Shaw. The team also landed Chase Anderson from the Brewers in exchange for prospect Chad Spanberger early-on in the offseason. For a team that finished 21st in team ERA last season, upgrading in this department was a big deal.

The Jays said goodbye to free-agents Justin Smoak, back-up catcher Luke Maile and pitcher Clay Buchholz.

IF THINGS GO RIGHT… 

The Blue Jays could be surprise contender in the AL East if they can stay relatively healthy and the kids evolve into MLB stars before our eyes. They won’t compete for the division title but they can be a thorn in the side of the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and whoever else is trying to make a playoff push. The pitching is very deep outside of the starting five while the bullpen looks to be solid once again this season.

The AL East could be in a state of flux and ripe for the picking with the Yankees being ravished with injuries once again and much uncertainty surrounding the Boston Red Sox following their trade of Mookie Betts and David Price. If everything goes the Jays way, maybe they push for a .500 record in 2020, which would be a real positive.

IF THINGS GO WRONG… 

The Blue Jays need to build on their lessons learned in 2019, if they fail to do so, they will once again find themselves barely treading water in the AL East basement.

Their pitching will be undoubtedly better but Vladdy, Bo, Cavan and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. must all assert themselves as every day, viable middle of the order hitters. If any of the young Jays start to plateau in their development and the pitching is shaky, this team will be fourth in the division and won’t be relevant in the Major League Baseball landscape.

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