5 Keys to a strong 2nd half for the Toronto Blue Jays

Jul 5, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Edwin Encarnacion (10) leaves the field after injuring himself at first base during the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

1.)    Get Healthy

Right now, the team is missing  three very important pieces to their line-up, having lost Edwin Encarnacion (quad), Brett Lawrie (fractured hand), and Adam Lind (foot fracture) until at the minimum early August. That has forced the Blue Jays to plug in various other pieces into a line-up that has been plagued by depth issues.

In order for the Blue Jays to contend, they need to get these bats back in the line-up, especially Encarnacion, who paces the team in home runs, RBI, and provides line-up protection for Jose Bautista.

The return of Lawrie will also benefit the team greatly. At the very least, he will cement either third or second base and remove one of the rotations the team is currently forced to play with Steve Tolleson, Juan Francisco, and Munenori Kawasaki. He provides a right-handed bat in the line-up that produces against lefties, something the Blue Jays are struggling immensely with right now.