Toronto Blue Jays offense under pressure as struggles continue

Blue Jays’ scoring ranks near MLB’s bottom despite offseason moves and rising talent.

Anthony Santander #25 of the Toronto Blue Jays scores at home plate past Bo Naylor #23 of the Cleveland Guardians during the third inning of their MLB game at Rogers Centre on May 2, 2025, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

For nearly two seasons, the Toronto Blue Jays offense has been in decline, and the start of the 2025 campaign has done little to reverse that trend. Despite sweeping offseason changes, the team’s bats remain quiet. Through the first 31 games, Toronto ranks 27th in Major League Baseball in runs scored—down from 23rd in 2024 and 14th the year before. The offensive crisis has persisted through another rocky start to the year, with the Blue Jays posting a 15-16 record heading into the weekend.

Speaking before the start of a three-game home series against the Cleveland Guardians, general manager Ross Atkins acknowledged the shortcomings.

“It has to get better,” Atkins said. “We’ve worked tirelessly over the last year and a half to correct for that and do believe in the adjustments that we’ve made... but we can’t rest on that.”

Among the most notable changes this past offseason were the acquisition of power-hitting outfielder Anthony Santander and the addition of two new hitting coaches. Despite those moves, the Toronto Blue Jays offense has failed to find consistency at the plate. The issue isn't for lack of talent—stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette remain vital to the team’s core—but runs are simply not coming often enough to compete in the ultra-competitive AL East.

Guerrero and Bichette remain offensive anchors

While the overall team numbers are bleak, Atkins made it clear that the club isn’t panicking about Guerrero or Bichette. Though neither has posted eye-popping home run totals in the early weeks, advanced metrics such as expected weighted on-base average (xwOBA)—a stat heavily relied on by the Blue Jays’ analytics team—show both are performing well above their career norms.

Bichette is, in fact, tracking toward the best expected output of his professional career. Guerrero, while lacking explosive results, continues to hit the ball with authority.

But in a lineup struggling to string together big innings, Toronto needs contributions beyond its core duo.

“We just have to score more,” Atkins said. “I feel like we’re going to be able to prevent runs.”

Where the Blue Jays seek offensive improvement

Toronto’s offensive woes aren’t just about stars underperforming—they also stem from limited depth and roster construction. The current roster features high-contact, low-power players like Alejandro Kirk and Ernie Clement. Their value lies in putting the ball in play and hitting line drives, but they’re unlikely to change the scoreboard with towering home runs.

The hope is that a mix of muscle and youth can ignite the lineup. Santander, Daulton Varsho, and rookie Addison Barger are being counted on to add lift and power. Santander delivered one of the season’s most important hits so far—a go-ahead home run against the Red Sox on Wednesday. Barger, meanwhile, leads the team in average exit velocity and is expected to see extended time in right field and third base.

“He does have talent that can impact the game in a significant way with one swing or one play,” Atkins said of Barger. “Every time he comes up, I feel like he’s got a chance to hit the ball 400 feet.”

For the Toronto Blue Jays offense to climb out of the MLB’s basement, they’ll need a handful of these hypotheticals to become realities. It’s not a problem one player can solve. But if Barger catches fire, Santander builds momentum, and Guerrero and Bichette stay consistent, the potential is there to shift the narrative.

Rotation depth under stress amid Scherzer’s recovery

While the Toronto Blue Jays offense grabs headlines for its sluggishness, the pitching staff is quietly holding things together—barely. The club remains optimistic about Max Scherzer’s return from thumb inflammation. On Friday, the veteran threw a heavy bullpen session at Rogers Centre, a key step in his recovery process.

Still, his absence has forced the Jays to get creative with their fifth starter. Eric Lauer carried the load during a bullpen game earlier in the week. Meanwhile, Easton Lucas, fresh off a dominant six-inning outing in Triple-A, could be a near-term call-up. Prospect Jake Bloss and lefty Adam Macko—recovering from knee surgery—are other potential options.

However, with Scherzer still days or weeks away from returning to the rotation, the team is bracing for a potential collapse in starting depth. Atkins hinted that the Blue Jays are working behind the scenes on external reinforcements.

“We have a couple of things in the works there that are more on the depth front,” Atkins said. “You know, via free agency.”

Contract talks loom beyond Guerrero extension

Inking Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a historic $500 million extension in April was a headline-grabbing move for Toronto, but it didn’t end the front office’s long-term planning. Key veterans—including Bo Bichette, Max Scherzer, Chad Green, and Chris Bassitt—are all set to reach free agency at the end of the 2025 season.

Looking slightly ahead, additional impact players like Daulton Varsho, George Springer, and Kevin Gausman will be free agents after 2026. In total, more than one-third of the roster and upwards of $100 million in payroll could come off the books within 24 months.

The club’s strategy is now focused on building a core around Guerrero. Bichette is at the top of that list, but Varsho’s future is also under discussion. Though his offensive output has lagged since joining the Jays, his 8.6 bWAR over the past two seasons is second only to Guerrero on the team.

“Daulton is a great player we’d love to have here for a long time,” Atkins said. “And we’re always thinking about how to keep a group together for an extended period of time.”

Road ahead: urgency and opportunity

As the 2025 MLB season heats up, pressure is mounting on the Toronto Blue Jays offense to deliver results. Despite bold offseason moves and elite talent, the lineup remains near the bottom of the league in production. With every passing series, the need for answers becomes more urgent.

Ross Atkins and the front office continue to believe in the roster they’ve assembled. But belief alone won’t change the scoreboard. Toronto’s path back to relevance requires more than metrics—it demands execution. Whether through hot streaks from Santander and Barger or contract stability with stars like Bichette and Varsho, the Blue Jays must translate potential into production before their season slips away.