Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hits a double during the first inning against the Mariners in Seattle on Sunday.Olivia Vanni/Getty Images
The season is slipping away from the Toronto Blue Jays.
Going into Tuesday night’s meeting with San Francisco, they had lost their last four games by a combined 27-1. After a 10-1 thumping at San Francisco on Monday night, they fell to a season-worst seven games below .500.
With the all-star break looming, frustration is mounting. On Sunday, Ernie Clement, who has easily been Toronto’s best player, said the team is playing like crap. Only he used a stronger word.
For months fans have buoyed their hopes on the fact that the Blue Jays started poorly in 2025 before turning in a magical run. That is true, but they were in first place by now and never looked back en route to winning the American League championship.
After 91 games, they are 11.5 back of the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East and 8.5 behind the New York Yankees. They are 3.5 in arrears in the wildcard race.
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Toronto has reached this place for a variety of reasons, including a plethora of injuries. A starting rotation that looked six strong during spring training is three deep now – Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman and Trey Yesavage – and Gausman has been shaky lately. Over his last four outings he has allowed 18 earned runs in 19 1/3 innings.
Injuries are undeniable but they are not an excuse.
Toronto’s biggest problem so far has been the diminished returns from its biggest star, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. In the first year of a long-term contract that is valued at US$35.7-million a season, he is hitting .263 with 35 runs batted in. He actually has two more stolen bases (six) than home runs (four).
Guerrero won the fan vote at first base for the July 14 All-Star Game but turned down the invitation to rest what he says is an ailing back.
There are others who have failed as well. George Springer, who returned to the club on Monday after taking a leave last week while his wife had a baby, is at .221 with eight home runs and 21 RBIs. He is 36 and it is his second poor year in the last three.
Designated hitter George Springer runs home after hitting a triple on an in-field home run after a fielding error by New York Mets' A.J. Ewing in Toronto, on June 29.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
Alejandro Kirk missed more than two months due to a fractured thumb but has not done well since his return. He is at .182, and rookie catcher Brandon Valenzuela has had limited at-bats since Kirk was declared healthy. Daulton Varsho is at .246 and has not exhibited the same kind of power he has in the past.
Clement deserves his all-star nod, as does reliever Louis Varland and starting pitcher Dylan Cease. An argument could be made for Kazuma Okamoto and his 20 home runs but a sub-.500 team should not have five players in an All-Star Game.
With an exception here or there players who performed at high levels last year aren’t doing it now. Toronto entered Tuesday 28th in runs scored in the major leagues and 25th in home runs.
It has pushed three runners across home since it plated nine on Canada Day.
“We sucked today,” John Schneider, the Toronto manager, said after Monday’s loss. “Plain and simple, from start to finish.”
The Blue Jays are back in San Francisco on Tuesday evening with Spencer Miles, their surprising rookie pitcher, on the mound. Perhaps he can help stem the bleeding.
Where this leaves the Blue Jays is this: Unless they go on a long run, probably more dramatic than even last year’s, they could be sellers rather than buyers at the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
They have another game versus the Giants on Wednesday and then three with the San Diego Padres beginning on Friday. Neither have been very good.
A couple of wins between now and Sunday would settle things down a bit. But if they take one step forward and two steps back time and again after the all-star break it won’t be enough.