Blue Jays Look Strong Heading to the Postseason
The 2015 Major League Baseball regular season winds to a close this weekend with the postseason set to begin October 6. On Wednesday, the Toronto Blue Jays clinched their first title in the American League East since 1993 after thumping the Baltimore Orioles 15-2.
The Blue Jays are now 92-65 on the season and have an impressive record of 42-14 since July 29, which was the first game Troy Tulowitzki played for the Blue Jays.
Tulo did not contribute too much to their success. He has only hit .232 since joining them and has been sidelined since September 12.
However, the Blue Jays continued their run without the shortstop by moving Ryan Goins to shortstop, and having Josh Donaldson carry a big stick for the offense.
The play of Goins shows the great depth Toronto has on the roster. Goins was starting at second only because the usual starter Devon Travis was injured.
Goins who is usually glove then bat, has been hitting with an average of .283 during the second half of the season.
The roster is lined with backup players that have stepped in when needed whether it is for one game or a month.
Another gift the Blue Jays received was the return of Marcus Stroman. Since returning from an injury, Stroman is 4-0 with an ERA of 1.67 in his four starts.
In Toronto’s Game 1 on Wednesday, Stroman gave up one run in eight innings.
With Stroman, David Price and Marco Estrada, Toronto has the best group of three starters in the American League to complement the best offense in baseball and a bullpen that has improved by leaps and bounds since the beginning of the season.
Toronto now has a run differential of an amazing +236, which is the largest difference since the Seattle Mariners of 2001.
The Blue Jays have put together the current team via trades, but that does not matter as long as it works for them.
They have also picked up talent that was basically free. Jose Bautista came from Pittsburgh in a minor trade back in 2008. Edwin Encarnacion came from Cincinnati in a trade for Scott Rolen.
Chris Colabello was claimed off waivers. Justin Smoak was released by Seattle and signed by Toronto. Roberto Osuna the 20-year old closer for Toronto was signed in Mexico as a 16 year old.
The only big free agent to sign was Russell Martin, but the team was built based on the trades and good use of secondary trade markets and the waiver wire.
Due to Price being a free agent after the season, this could be the highest point the team reaches but they have a good chance of running the table.
