ANALYSIS | The Toronto Blue Jays' Shaky Start to the 2026 MLB Season

Photo Credit: Sammy Kogan/The Globe and Mail

The defending American League Championship Series (ALCS) winner Toronto Blue Jays are back on the diamond for the start of the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) season. After a heartbreaking game-seven World Series defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Jays are undoubtedly hoping to make a return to the playoffs.

However, the season has been off to a shaky start for the club. As of Apr. 27, the Blue Jays’ record stands at 12 wins and 16 losses, and they sit in second-to-last place in the American League East Division, according to ESPN. 

The Jays’ run in the 2025 World Series was the team's first World Series appearance since 1993, and the team was determined to bring the Commissioner's Trophy, which is awarded to the World Series Winner, back to Canada.

Almost every player contributed significantly to their run. Notable hitters included Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, George Springer, Alejandro Kirk, and Ernie Clement, who scored a combined 104 hits and 19 home runs during the postseason. The Jays’ pitchers performed exceptionally well too, according to Fox Sports. Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Max Scherzer, and Trey Yesavage all won at least one game in their run for the Jays. Yesavage, in particular, who is a young, 22-year-old star, pitched and won two games in the World Series for the Jays.

Blue Jays management had a busy off-season, looking to improve their roster for a potential return to the World Series. Some key moves included bolstering their pitching core by signing free agent right-handed pitchers Dylan Cease from the San Diego Padres, Cody Ponce from the Korea Baseball Organization, and Tyler Rogers from the San Francisco Giants.

Some other key moves were signing third basemen Kazuma Okamoto from the Nippon Professional Baseball League in Japan, and trading for outfielder Jesus Sanchez from the Houston Astros.

Some players also left to free agency, including star shortstop Bo Bichette, pitchers Chris Bassit, and Seranthony Dominguez.

The Jays made a strong effort to sign star free agent right fielder Kyle Tucker from the Chicago Cubs, with reports saying the contract offer was for 10 years for $350 million, but Tucker ultimately signed with the L.A. Dodgers on a four-year, $240 million contract. 

Fast-forwarding to the start of the season, the Blue Jays already encountered some challenges, even before their first game. Pitchers Jose Berrios, Shane Bieber, Yimi Garcia, and Trey Yesavage all began the season on the injured list. Berrios, Bieber, and Garcia have all yet to step onto the mound this season, as of Apr. 28, and Yesavage made his season debut on April 28.

The Jays’ first series of the season were three home games against the Athletics, a team that formerly played in Oakland, but is currently in the process of relocating to Sacramento. The Jays came out victorious in all three games, and the starting pitchers in the series — Gausman, Eric Lauer, and newly acquired Cease — combined for a total of 32 strikeouts across the three games.

The start looked promising and convincing, however the Jays’ performance soon started to go south. The Jays would go on to lose two out of three home games in their next series against the Colorado Rockies, who had the MLB’s worst record in the 2025 season.

Not only did they lose those two games, but they also lost newly-acquired pitcher Ponce in his first game with the club, who sprained his ACL while trying to make a play to first base. Ponce underwent successful ACL surgery, and is expected to miss six months.

The Jays then had a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox, who had the second worst record in the 2025 MLB season. They lost all three games, and also lost their star catcher Alejandro Kirk, and right fielder Addison Barger to injury. Kirk suffered a thumb injury, underwent surgery, and was given a recovery timeline of six weeks at the time after his surgery. Meanwhile, Barger was placed on the 10-day injured list with an ankle injury.

And the injuries kept piling up. Designated hitter George Springer suffered a fractured toe against the Minnesota Twins, and he’s currently on the injured list as of Apr. 27.

Trying to deal with all the injuries, the Jays traded for infielder Lenyn Sosa from the Chicago White Sox.

The Jays’ record is 9-18 since their promising three victories against the Athletics. However, it hasn't been just injuries affecting them. The quality of their baseball game has not been the same from the club compared to their stats from their World Series run.

When looking at team offensive stats, all stats according to ESPN as of Apr. 27, the Jays collectively have only scored 110 runs this year, which is ranked 27th out of 30 teams in the MLB, and only have 25 home runs this year, which is 25th in the league. 

When looking at pitching stats, the team is 22nd in earned run average with 4.45 runs given up in a game on average, and are 20th in opponent batting average at .246.

As well, defense and fielding have been a major problem for the Jays this season. The club is 27th in fielding percentage, and they have committed the 4th most errors in the league with 20. In some cases, these errors have resulted in valuable runs for the other team.

Individual player stats have not been the same compared to the 2025 season. First baseman Guerrero Jr., who is the Blue Jays’ highest paid player, is off to a slow start this year. Guerrero Jr. had just two home runs in his first 28 games, after hitting a total of 31 in 2025, including postseason.

Pitchers Brendon Little and Jeff Hoffman have also experienced slumps this season. Little has only pitched 3.2 innings out of the bullpen this season, and has given up 10 earned runs in that span. Little was sent down to the Jays Triple A Minor League team after a game against the White Sox where he gave up back to back homeruns just after being put in the game.

Hoffman, the Jays’ pitching reliever/closer, on the other hand, has also struggled this year. After giving up the tying home run in the top of the ninth inning in Game 7 against the Dodgers. Hoffman has given up nine earned runs and two home runs in crucial late innings, including a grand slam in a tie game in the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In fact, on Apr. 24, Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins announced that Hoffman would be removed from the closer role amid his struggles.

Although the start of their season hasn't been exactly what the Blue Jays have hoped for, there are still well over 120 games left in their MLB season, and there is no need for Jays fans to hit the panic button this early.