The Return Of The Toronto Blue Jays For 2024 Baseball Season

 

After a slow offseason, many fans have been left to ponder, what direction the Toronto Blue Jays will go in 2024. While they made one splash by signing thirty-nine year old former all-star and third-baseman, Justin Turner. 

 

The Jays have stayed put with their four top starters of, Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt, and Yusei Kikuchi. The Team has tried to reinsert former ace Alek Manoah back into the starting five. Manoah however, has struggled to find his former form as he has gotten shelled in his minor league preparation innings. 

 

The team started the first few weeks of the season on the road as their home continued to be renovated. Their season started in Tampa Bay against the Rays for a four-game set. In the season opener, Berrios pitched a great game giving up two earned runs over a total of six innings played. The Blue Jays won this game by a margin of 8-2, with Rays starting pitcher Zach Eflin taking the loss for the Rays. The Blue Jays ended up splitting this series 2-2. 

 

For the next series, The Jays headed to Houston to play in a three-game series against the Astros at Minute Maid Park.  This series started in complete frustration for the Jays as they went hitless against Astros starting pitcher Ronel Blanco. Previous to his no-hitter, Blanco had never pitched more than six games in a major league game.

In the next game, The Blue Jays were able to win 2-1 after the heroics of Davis Schneider's ninth-inning home run. The Jays were blanked in a final score of 8-0 in the final game of the series. 

 

The Blue Jays traveled to New York to square off against The Yankees. Where they dropped two of three games. These divisional series are integral to the Blue Jays success this year.

  

So far this season, The Blue Jays have been affected by inconsistent hitting and bullpen pitching. George Springer, Vladimir Gurrrero Jr, Bo Bichette, Daulton Varsho and Alejandro Kirk are all hitting around or under 200. To be competitive in the American League East, it is imperative for these players to get on base. In contrast to these slumping players Justin Turner is hitting the ball off its cover with a batting average of 333.  Young players like third baseman Ernie Clement, and left fielder Davis Schnieder have contributed to the team but not consistently so far. While the stars of the team look to break out of their slumps, it looks promising for the team. 

 

According to Sportsnet Jays analyst Arash Madani, “George Springer has a pulse".  Springer’s success on the field is very important to the team as he serves as a central member of the team's leadership. 

 

The Jays look to build some consistency as they enter the second month of the season. As baseball is a sport with a season of 162 regular games, it is a marathon that requires great patience, great pitching and timely hitting. Not to mention healthy players.