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Toronto Blue Jays predictions for the 2020 season

By Reuben Gasee

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 10: Cavan Biggio #8, Bo Bichette #11, Jonathan Davis #49 and Randal Grichuk #15 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrate the win following the ninth inning of a MLB game against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre on September 10, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 10: Cavan Biggio #8, Bo Bichette #11, Jonathan Davis #49 and Randal Grichuk #15 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrate the win following the ninth inning of a MLB game against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre on September 10, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 06: Rowdy Tellez #44 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after striking out to Cole Sulser #71 of the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth inning at Tropicana Field on September 06, 2019 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

Rowdy Tellez leads team in HR

Last season, Tellez slugged .449 with 21 HR in 111 games, good for 4th best on the team. The guys ahead of him were Randal Grichuk (31), Teoscar Hernandez (26) and Justin Smoak (22). One thing to note about the guys ahead of him in home runs last season was that they all played more games than he did.

With Vladimir Guerrero Jr.set to be the primary first baseman and Travis Shaw shifting over to third base, Tellez should be the primary designated hitter which his 6’4, 255-pound frame is built for.

Assuming he can get regular playing time, which could be an issue as Charlie Montoyo may want to get Derek Fisher or even Hernandez at-bats as the designated hitter, Tellez will be the team leader in home runs. Even if he plays 75% of games, it should still give him enough time to lead the team in long balls.

Blue Jays miss the playoffs

Major League Baseball just announced that they are expanding the playoffs from 10 teams to 16 meaning eight teams from each league will reach the postseason. The top two teams in each division make it while the next two teams with the best record will also reach the postseason as well.

This seems like beneficial news for the Blue Jays and it surely is but they will still not make it this year. In the AL East, the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays are locks to be the top two teams in the division in any order as both teams possess good pitching and hitting.

This leaves the Jays to finish third or fourth in the division which I believe they will finish in third place ahead of the Boston Red Sox but they won’t have good enough of a record to be one of the two teams that don’t come top two to reach the postseason.

In the AL Central, three teams are vying for the division and a playoff spot. Whichever team doesn’t come top two between the Twins, Indians and White Sox will get one of the two extra playoff spots. The same thing goes for the Rangers who will get one of the two extra playoff spots as they should finish third behind the Astros and Athletics.

The Jays just don’t have a strong enough of a team yet as they need a bit stronger of a bullpen, a better outfield and perhaps another starter.

Next. Blue Jays make the appropriate decision. dark

Do you think any of these predictions will be right? What predictions do you have for the Blue Jays this season?

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