Toronto Blue Jays: An analysis of the 60-game schedule

The Toronto Blue Jays schedule for the shortened 2020 campaign was revealed last night.

If the season went according to plan, the Blue Jays would be in the second game of a three-game series against the Red Sox, where they would then head to Minnesota to play a four-game series against the Twins before the All-Star break arrived. As we know though, that’s not the case.

Instead, the Blue Jays will play just 60 games, 40 against AL East teams and 20 against NL East teams. They start off the season facing the Rays in Tampa where the team is deeper than the Jays have ever seen before. As they open the season against them, barring unforeseen circumstances, they will be facing Charlie Morton, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow in no particular order. Morton posted a 3.05 E.R.A. last season with 240 strikeouts, Snell is the 2018 Cy Young recipient, and Glasnow is a great pitcher who just struggles to stay healthy.

They will then head over to America’s capital, which is followed by the Nationals playing the Jays on the road, despite the Blue Jays being without a home to play as of yet for this season. With four consecutive games vs. the Nationals, they are sure to see two if not all of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin. Those three combine for arguably the greatest rotation in the major leagues.

More from Jays Journal

• Matt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right direction
• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King

Their next six games come against two National League teams in the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves. The Phillies boast the likes of Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Aaron Nola, Rhys Hoskins and others, and the Jays lost the series to Atlanta at home last season, who remain almost the same other than the additions of Marcell Ozuna and Cole Hamels who make the team better.

From August 11th-19th, the Jays get two weak teams in the Miami Marlins and Baltimore Orioles. After they face the Orioles, they embark on their first four-game series against the Rays in Tampa. In recent history and memory, the Jays tend to struggle at Tropicana Field. They also get another stretch of facing weaker opponents as from August 28th-September 2nd, they face the Orioles and Marlins for a combined six games. Those games could be crucial depending on what their record is, as the trade deadline is August 31st.

The Blue Jays don’t play the Yankees until September 7th, a three-game series which is then followed by the Mets coming to town. I’m pointing this out based on the fact that Marcus Stroman will be returning to Toronto and could take the mound at the place he once called home. While there will be no fans at the games, if Stroman were to pitch at Rogers Centre under normal circumstances, he would surely get a standing ovation for giving his all on the mound and for all the heart he gave to the city of Toronto.

They end off the season with a three-game series against the Orioles at home. This series could be very important as it could be what determines if the Jays are able to get a wild card spot or not. It’s a good thing that they finish their season off against a team they can hopefully pounce on.

With the Blue Jays having to face the NL East, it won’t be an easy schedule and their chances of reaching the postseason in a 60 game schedule was adjusted to 15.1% according to FanGraphs, but in this short, unique season, anything can happen.