Why Are the Blue Jays Suddenly Dominating MLB Headlines? Inside Toronto’s Surging Season

The Toronto Blue Jays close out their West Coast trip this afternoon with a rubber match against the Oakland Athletics at Sutter Health Park, first pitch scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET. Toronto enters the finale at 55-39, clinging to the final American League Wild-Card spot, while Oakland sits 16 games under .500 and firmly in rebuild mode. Right-hander José Berríos (5-3, 3.53 ERA) gets the ball for manager John Schneider, aiming to rebound from a five-run outing in Seattle. Berríos has piled up 103 strikeouts in 114 ⅔ innings and has held opponents to a .228 average away from Rogers Centre this season. The A’s counter with crafty lefty Jeffrey Springs (7-6, 3.92 ERA), whose changeup has generated a 34 percent whiff rate but who has struggled versus right-handed power bats. Toronto’s offense is heating up at the right time. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. launched his 24th homer on Saturday, extending his on-base streak to 21 games and raising his July OPS to 1.086. Bo Bichette owns a .349 average in the same span, while rookie Addison Barger continues to impress with a .914 OPS since his June call-up. As a unit, the Blue Jays have averaged 5.7 runs per game over their last nine contests after sitting in the league’s bottom third for most of the first half. The bullpen has quietly become a strength. Jordan Romano is 18-of-20 in save chances, Yimi García sports a 1.91 ERA in high-leverage work, and Tim Mayza is holding left-handed hitters to a .173 average. With closer workloads ticking up, Schneider hinted pre-game that swingman Bowden Francis could be recalled as a multi-inning bridge when the club returns home Friday. Today’s matchup carries playoff implications despite the calendar still reading July. Toronto is half a game up on Minnesota and two clear of Tampa Bay in the Wild-Card chase, and the club’s upcoming homestand features three against the surging Giants before a daunting set with the Yankees. Taking the series in Sacramento would give the Jays momentum and guarantee at least a 5-4 trip through California. Oakland, meanwhile, is auditioning young talent. Speedy center fielder Denzel Clarke belted his third homer Saturday and boasts elite sprint metrics, while top infield prospect Jacob Wilson is expected to debut later this month. Springs, today’s starter, has logged quality starts in four of his last six but was tagged for two Guerrero missiles when the teams met in Toronto back in May. Key storyline to watch: how the right-heavy Blue Jays lineup handles Springs’ cambio. Guerrero, Bichette, and George Springer all slug over .500 versus changeups this year, but Springs induces more grounders than any A’s pitcher. If Toronto can lift the ball early, it could set the stage for another bullpen day for Oakland, whose relievers own a 5.28 ERA since June 1. Fans in Canada can catch the action on Sportsnet and SN NOW; U.S. viewers can tune in on NBC Sports California. With trade-deadline rumors swirling—Toronto has reportedly checked in on White Sox reliever Michael Kopech—the next few weeks could define whether the Jays make their first deep postseason run since 2016. Projected lineups Blue Jays: Springer RF, Bichette SS, Guerrero 1B, Kirk C, Horwitz DH, Chapman 3B, Barger LF, Schneider 2B, Kiermaier CF. Athletics: Clarke CF, Gelof 2B, Soderstrom 1B, Rooker DH, Bleday RF, Butler LF, Soderstrom C, Jordan 3B, Allen SS. Prediction: Blue Jays 6, Athletics 3. With Berríos locating his sinker and the bats rolling, Toronto heads home 56-39 and feeling bullish about its second-half push.