Mike Wilner: Blue Jays had more ups than downs in first third of season, but just barely
has managed to stay off the coaster. He leads the Jays with 11 home runs, 37 RBIs, 33 runs scored and a .912 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. He’s also leading the American League with a .338 batting average and tops the majors with 78 hits.at .877. The 33-year-old, finally healthy after hip surgery and newly equipped with contact lenses, is batting .319, 43 points higher than his 2017 career high of .276. His career high in OPS is .788 that same season.
The improved defence has been as advertised. Kiermaier and Daulton Varsho rank third and fourth in the majors in defensive runs saved, regardless of position, giving the Jays the best defensive outfield in the majors with 19 DRS. Only three other teams have more than 10.’s .726 OPS is well below his 2018 career low of .780. Things do seem to be turning around for the leadoff man, though. Having shaken an illness that dogged him for at least two weeks, Springer is hitting .
Yimi Garcia was expected to be Romano’s setup man, but has been scored upon in 40 per cent of his appearances, often allowing multiple runs, and has a 6.46 ERA. The Jays hoped Alejandro Kirk and Santiago Espinal would build off their 2022 all-star seasons, but both have taken steps back. Kirk’s .677 OPS is second-worst among Jays’ regulars, while Espinal was hitting just .205 and had lost any kind of regular playing time when he landed on the injured list with a hamstring strain last week.
Through one-third of the season, it’s been a mixed Jays bag with plenty of missed opportunities, ugly losses and sloppy play. The second third of the season, which begins Tuesday night home to Milwaukee, features 30 home games and only eight games against divisional opponents. If they can clean things up, the second third should be a lot better than the first. It will have to be.
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