After closing out the first half of the regular season 44-37, the Toronto Blue Jays find themselves near the playoff cutoff line as the second half of the season begins.
The New York Yankees appear poised to clinch the AL East this year, while division rivals Boston, Toronto and Tampa Bay hold the AL wild-card spots before Tuesday’s games.
An expanded playoff structure this year — a third wild-card team was added in both leagues — may help teams like the Blue Jays, who missed the postseason last year 91-71.
Here’s a look at Toronto’s first-half 2022 season report card (all stats came into play Tuesday):
START OF ROTATION
While Alek Manoah is enjoying a breakout sophomore season, inconsistency has plagued several Toronto starters this year.
Manoah has become the staff’s ace thanks to a 9-3 record. The burly right-hander is third in the AL with a 2.33 ERA, his 0.99 WHIP ranks fifth and he’s ninth in opponent batting average (.213).
Kevin Gausman (6-6, 2.86) has been pretty reliable, but José Berríos (6-4, 5.72) and Yusei Kikuchi (3-4, 4.74) have had too many ups and downs. Ross Stripling (4-3, 3.32) has transitioned well into the rotation from a long relief role following a season-ending injury to Hyun Jin Ryu.
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Overall Grade: C
BULLPEN
Canadian closer Jordan Romano (2-2, 2.79) was a workhorse during the first couple of months, as the Blue Jays found themselves in tight games with remarkable frequency.
His ninth-inning performances are a big reason the Blue Jays are 18-12 in one-run games. Romano, from Markham, Ontario, has 17 saves this season, tied for second in the American League behind Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase.
However, Toronto’s overall lack of relief depth needs attention. Set-up guys Tim Mayza and Yimi Garcia have battled injuries at times this season, forcing GM Charlie Montoyo to get creative and sometimes use lower lever arms in high-leverage spots.
Among the top relievers, Adam Cimber and David Phelps have put up decent numbers, while Trent Thornton has been lackluster. Trevor Richards and Julian Merryweather had years before they entered the IL.
Overall Grade: C-
GARDENERS
A healthy George Springer has helped stabilize Toronto’s outfield. The center fielder is posting strong offensive stats and his defense has also been strong.
Teoscar Hernandez has returned to form after an oblique injury and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has also provided a constant presence. Raimel Tapia has been a competent option, and backup outfielder Bradley Zimmer’s speed has made up for a weak bat.
Overall Grade: B
UNFAITHFUL
There’s a lot to like about Toronto’s infield situation.
Shortstop Bo Bichette and first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will likely be the All-Star starters. Matt Chapman has been a rock at third base and Santiago Espinal has emerged as a quality second baseman every day.
Cavan Biggio has thrown a big bat since being pulled from Triple-A Buffalo in late May. He has been a valuable utility as he can play well defensively at multiple positions.
Overall grade: B+
COLLECTORS
The Blue Jays are loaded behind home plate. Toronto catchers currently lead the major leagues in hits (84), batting average (.295), on-base percentage (.367), and OPS (on base plus slugging) (.869).
Alejandro Kirk is slashing .315/.405/.910 in a breakout season while forming a formidable 1-2 with Danny Jansen.
Since Jansen has been on the disabled list twice this year, the Blue Jays have given prospect Gabriel Moreno some major league reps and he has showcased some of his impressive skills.
Overall Grade: A
MANAGEMENT
General manager Ross Atkins has done well to shape a competitive roster with a bright future. The next few weeks will be a real test, as he intends to make improvements before the August 2 trade deadline.
Addressing the lack of depth on the mound is priority No. 1. Another left-handed bat would also be a welcome addition.
Toronto ranks ninth in the 30-team MLB power rankings with a slightly better 44-37 record than the 2021 team (43-38) at the midpoint of last year. The Blue Jays currently have a 90.7 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to FanGraphs projections.
Injuries to key players have not made things easy for Montoyo, who is in his fourth season as skipper. He will be under pressure to get an expected contender back to the postseason.
Overall Grade: C+
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This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 5, 2022.
Follow @GregoryStrongCP on Twitter.
© 2022 The Canadian Press