The 2024 MLB season was supposed to be a year of redemption for the Toronto Blue Jays. After a disappointing playoff exit in 2023, the team entered this season with high expectations—only to find themselves mired in inconsistency, injuries, and underperformance. As the season progresses, the pressure is mounting on stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette to step up and steer the team back on track.
In this article, we’ll break down:
- Key
reasons behind the Blue Jays’ struggles
- The
underperformance of Guerrero Jr. and Bichette
- Injuries
plaguing the roster
- What
needs to change for a playoff push
1. A Disappointing Start to the 2024 Season
Coming into 2024, the Blue Jays were seen as AL East
contenders, with a strong core of young stars and veteran additions.
However, the team has stumbled out of the gate, hovering around .500 and
struggling to gain momentum.
Key Issues So Far:
✅ Offensive Struggles –
The Jays rank in the bottom third of MLB in runs scored.
✅ Bullpen Blowups – Late-game leads have been
squandered too often.
✅ Defensive Lapses – Uncharacteristic errors have
cost them games.
With the Yankees, Orioles, and Red Sox all
playing well, Toronto risks falling too far behind in a stacked division.
2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. & Bo Bichette: Where’s the
MVP-Caliber Production?
The Blue Jays’ success was always going to hinge on their
two franchise cornerstones:
- Vladimir
Guerrero Jr. (1B)
- Bo
Bichette (SS)
Yet, both have gotten off to slow starts,
raising concerns about whether they can carry the team.
Vladdy’s Power Outage
- After
a 32-HR, .900 OPS season in 2023, Guerrero is hitting
just .250 with 8 HRs through mid-May.
- His hard-hit
rate is down, and he’s chasing too many pitches outside the zone.
Bichette’s Inconsistency
- Bichette,
a career .290+ hitter, is batting just .240 with
uncharacteristic strikeouts.
- His
defense has also been shaky, with 7 errors already.
The Bottom Line: If these two don’t return to
All-Star form soon, the Jays’ playoff hopes will fade fast.
3. Injuries Piling Up at the Worst Time
Beyond underperformance, injuries have derailed Toronto’s
season early:
Key Absences:
🚑 Alek Manoah
(SP) – Still working back from 2023 struggles; no clear timeline.
🚑 Kevin
Gausman (SP) – Missed time with shoulder fatigue (now back, but not
100%).
🚑 Danny
Jansen (C) – Another IL stint weakens an already thin catching group.
The rotation, once a strength, has been patchwork at
best, with Yusei Kikuchi and José Berríos forced
to carry too much of the load.
4. What Needs to Change for a Playoff Push?
The season isn’t lost yet, but the Blue Jays must
address three critical areas:
✅ Get Guerrero & Bichette
Going
- Hitting
coach Guillermo Martinez needs to help them adjust.
- More
aggressive early-count hitting could spark rallies.
✅ Fix the Bullpen
- Jordan
Romano’s return from injury will help, but others must step up.
- Trade
deadline moves may be necessary for another reliever.
✅ Stay Healthy & Get
Reinforcements
- Ricky
Tiedemann (top pitching prospect) could provide a mid-season
boost.
- A
trade for a power bat (e.g., Luis Robert Jr.) might be
needed.
5. The Road Ahead: Can the Jays Salvage Their Season?
The AL Wild Card race is wide open, and
Toronto has enough talent to get back in it—but time is running out.
Upcoming Key Series:
📅 vs. Yankees
(June 10-12) – A chance to make up ground.
📅 vs.
Orioles (June 24-26) – Crucial divisional showdown.
If the Jays can stay within 5 games of a Wild Card
spot by July, they’ll have a shot. But if Guerrero and Bichette don’t wake
up soon, major changes could be coming.
Final Verdict: Will the Blue Jays Turn It Around?
The talent is there, but the execution hasn’t been. If
Toronto’s stars start hitting, the pitching stays healthy,
and the front office makes smart moves, this team could still make
noise in October.
What do you think?
- Will
Guerrero & Bichette bounce back?
- Should
the Jays make a big trade?
- Can
they still make the playoffs?
Let us know in the comments! ⬇️
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