3 Blue Jays players who will be difference makers for Toronto coming out of the All-Star break

Getting off on the right foot coming out of the All-Star break will be key for the Toronto Blue Jays. After rocketing up the standings during the previous few weeks to firmly put themselves into playoff contention, the Blue Jays will need to maintain that momentum to fend off their rivals from the American League East as the race has tightened up.

In order to do so, Toronto will need some difference makers to help sustain their winning success. As a result, here will take a look at 3 key Blue Jays players that will play a significant role in keeping the Jays in the win column coming out of the All-Star break.

3 Blue Jays players who will be difference makers for Toronto coming out of the All-Star break

P Yariel Rodríguez 

Many may have already forgotten that Yariel Rodríguez struggled coming out of the gates this season. Rodríguez actually sported a dismal 5.65 ERA and 1.47 WHIP while giving up four home runs in just 14 1/3 innings through his first 13 appearances. But boy did he turn things around in a hurry since then. Rodríguez has been lights out and has held his opponents scoreless in his next 12 outings while giving up just five hits in the process. 

In fact, from May 7 onwards, Rodríguez has compiled a 2-0 record with one save and eight holds, along with a stellar 1.09 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, giving up just four earned runs and two home runs with 34 strikeouts in 33 innings of work. With that outstanding performance, he was easily the Jays most effective reliever coming out of the bullpen for all situations. As a result, look for Rodríguez to continue his excellence in the second half while being the key bullpen difference maker at the same time.

P Max Scherzer 

Things didn’t start off well for Max Scherzer in his tenure with the Jays. After a solid showing during spring training, Scherzer would end up missing a significant chunk of the season due to injury after making his regular season debut with the club.

However, that unfortunate time off could actually be a blessing in disguise because at age 40, many Jays fans wondered if he would have the stamina and endurance to remain effective over the course of a full 162-game schedule. 

But now that his 2025 season in effect didn’t really begin for him until late June, he should have lots left in tank going forward. More importantly, Scherzer has been giving the Jays quality innings since coming off the injured list.

He has held the opposition to two runs or less in each of his starts while posting close to one strikeout per inning in the process. In fact, in his last outing prior to the break, Scherzer produced a quality start while reaching the most pitches so far this season with 90.

As he gets better and better, he will help solidify the back end of the rotation for the Jays down the stretch and continue to be the big game pitcher that he is.

C Alejandro Kirk

Finally, we have one of the biggest surprises to the Jays season so far in catcher Alejandro Kirk. After putting together an All-Star campaign back in 2022, Kirk actually regressed in the subsequent two years that followed, making many wonder if he would ever find his All-Star form once again.

Well, the 26-year-old has certainly let his bat do the talking this season as he has propelled himself back into one of the best catchers in the league once again. Kirk has posted a stellar .303 average, .768 OPS, along with seven home runs and 45 RBIs in 81 games played en route to his second All-Star appearance.

More impressively, his approach at the plate when batting with two strikes has been off the charts. In such situations, Kirk has hit an unfathomable .317 with an .809 OPS. With his ability to attack the ball despite in a pitcher’s count, he could be an unstoppable offensive force for the Jays going forward.

As a result, it won’t be Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, George Springer or even breakout phenom Addison Barger, but Kirk instead in leading the charge for Toronto coming out of the All-Star break.