Will The Jays Next 100 Game Be Better Than The Last 60?

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Jun 2, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto (7) reacts after hitting a two run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

I always say it is hardest to blog about a middling team. A bad team, lots to talk about. A good team, lots to talk about. One in the middle?

I think the Jays will get better. I think getting Alejandro Kirk back will help a lot. I think getting, you know, five actual starting pitchers will help. Teams tend to do well on bullpen days, but I think using everyone in the pen in one game out of five (or in the Jays’ case, two games out of five) puts a lot of stress on the relievers. As much as I like the old days when Mark Eichhorn could throw 160 innings in a season, Tom Henke could throw 90 innings, and Duane Ward could throw 110, it was a different game back then. Having Louis Varland pitch in every other game isn’t a recipe for long-term success.

It would also help if we could get 4-5-6 runs a game. Yesterday, we had nine hits, including a home run, and we still only scored three runs. Until we start scoring consistently, we really can’t blame the pitching for a mediocre record. There is hardly anyone on the offense who is heading better than we would have expected, except for Yohendrick Piñango (and I don’t know of anyone who expected he would get playing time in the majors this year.

Even defensively, we haven’t been the team I expected. Gimenez has been terrific at short. And Daulton Varsho seems to be coming back to what we expected. But Ernie Clement has been a -5 runs above average at second base, and I didn’t see that coming. Jesus Sanchez and Piñango look like two guys who are new to playing the outfield.

Anyway, I do think things will get better with some of the guys coming off the IL. I don’t know if it will be better enough, but the AL has been pretty crappy, and we aren’t far out of a playoff spot, just one game back at the moment. Some or one of those teams hovering around the .500 mark are going to have to get better; maybe it will be the Jays. They had a great second half last year. Who is to say it can’t happen again?

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Baseball America has made some changes to its top 100 prospect list, and Jays prospect Nolan Perry has jumped on the list at #85. BA says:

Perry is one of this season’s biggest risers. He’s used a dynamic combination of speed and spin to flummox hitters at both Class A stops, and his ERA entering June 2 sat at a sparkling 1.37. He’s punched out 72 hitters in 46 innings and has the makings of a future rotation piece if he can bring his changeup forward.

Of course, Trey Yesavage is one of ten players from their list to have graduated off their list.

Beyond that, Arjun Nimmala has moved up from #65 to #48 (Jo Jo Parker has moved down, 41s

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