Flying High: First-place Blue Jays return home
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TORONTO – It was feast or famine for the Toronto Blue Jays on their recent road trip that included a record-breaking beatdown of the Colorado Rockies and a series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The first-place team is back home for a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs starting Tuesday night at Rogers Centre ahead of a three-game weekend set against the Texas Rangers.
Toronto leads the American League standings at 69-50 and has a four-game lead on the Boston Red Sox entering play Monday night.
Here's a look at five Blue Jays storylines to watch with about one-quarter of the season remaining:
BIEBER FEVER
The resurgence of veteran right-hander Max Scherzer and the emergence of southpaw Eric Lauer have given Toronto's starting rotation more stability.
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The team's five-man crew – which also includes Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios and Chris Bassitt – could soon become a six-man group as Shane Bieber nears a return.
The 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner, who was acquired from Cleveland at the trade deadline, has impressed in his Triple-A rehab appearances.
Bieber underwent Tommy John surgery last year. He has a career record of 62-32 with a 3.22 earned-run average over parts of seven big-league seasons.
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OFFENCE CLICKING
Toronto leads the major leagues in several offensive categories thanks in part to back-to-back-to-back routs of the Rockies last week.
The Blue Jays set a modern-era big-league record with a whopping 63 hits over the three games in Colorado. Toronto also set a franchise record with 45 runs scored.
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After dropping two of three games in Los Angeles over the weekend, the Blue Jays still lead the big leagues in hits (1,099), batting average (.269) and on-base percentage (.339). Toronto is also third in OPS (.767).
TOUGH DECISIONS
The Blue Jays will have some tough decisions to make this month as some big-name players get set to return to the lineup.
Second baseman Andres Gimenez will soon be activated after spending five weeks on the injured list with a left ankle sprain.
Outfielder/designated hitter George Springer, who has been out for two weeks due to a concussion, could also soon return.
Recent call-up Buddy Kennedy is the most likely player to be sent down. A second roster move is expected to be a much tougher call, given it will likely involve a player who sees more regular playing time.
ARMS RACE
A couple of hard-throwing right-handers could make their mark at the big-league level for the Blue Jays over the coming weeks.
Alek Manoah has impressed in his minor-league starts as he continues to build up after undergoing elbow surgery last year.
Manoah finished third in Cy Young Award voting in 2022 and is 29-20 with a 3.34 ERA over 75 career starts for the Blue Jays.
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Normally a starter, top pitching prospect Trey Yesavage threw in relief for Double-A New Hampshire last week for the first time since being drafted last year in the first round.
He had nine strikeouts over five innings.
STRETCH DRIVE
A playoff berth appears to be a slam dunk for Canada's lone big-league baseball team.
Entering Monday's games, Toronto has a 98.3-per-cent chance of qualifying for the post-season, per FanGraphs projections.
The website lists the Blue Jays at 78.1 per cent to win the East Division and at 65.8 per cent to earn a first-round bye to the division series.
After this homestand, Toronto visits the Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins before returning to Rogers Centre to play the Minnesota Twins and MLB-best Milwaukee Brewers.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2025.
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