MLB Standings Watch: Red Sox aren’t the American League’s only disappointing team
By Sean Penney
Sep 8, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (2) throws to first base against the Boston Red Sox during the fifth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Rising
(American League team gaining momentum)
Toronto Blue Jays: The Jays are 29-8 since they acquired Troy Tulowitzki, despite that their new shortstop has struggled at the plate since moving north of the border. Tulo has hit only .233/.319/.377 with the Blue Jays, as he has struggled to adjust to a new league. Toronto had him leading off for a while, but that didn’t work out, as he hit only .227 from the top of the lineup. They have since moved him back to 5th in hopes of shaking him out of this funk.
Tulowitzki isn’t lighting it up at the plate, but Toronto’s league-leading offense doesn’t need him to. He’s still been valuable as a defensive upgrade over Jose Reyes. More importantly, his arrival is what sparked the Jays to go on this run, as it sent a signal to the rest of the team that their front office was serious about making the postseason for the first time since 1993.
If the Blue Jays were going to make the postseason they knew they would need to have an ace to lead their rotation, so they went out and got the best available. David Price has gone 5-1 with a 2.15 ERA and 10.37 K/9 ratio in 7 starts with Toronto. They had the offense and now they have the pitching, which explains why their +196 run differential is on the verge of doubling the next best team in the league.
Toronto is nearly assured of a playoff spot at this point, even if they don’t hang on to the division title. Given how well they have played since the trade deadline, it’s fair to wonder if this is the most dangerous team in the league right now.
Next: Falling