4 Blue Jays players who are holding the team back with no end in sight

The Toronto Blue Jays came into the 2026 MLB season with high hopes in repeating as American League East division champions, as well as returning to the postseason to deal with some unfinished business. However, the inconsistencies of various Blue Jays along with the ill-timed injuries to other key players has kept them from running away with it all so far this year. Instead, Toronto finds themselves scrambling to just stay in contention for a playoff spot as a Wild Card contender.

Among all of the adversity that the Blue Jays have encountered thus far, there has been a few significant pieces that have underperformed in 2026, preventing Toronto from being in a better position than where they are today. There are 4 main culprits in this category who are holding the team back with no end in sight.

Which Blue Jays players need to really step it up for the team to take off in the second half?

DH George Springer

Blue Jays’ designated hitter George Springer had a phenomenal, bounce-back 2025 campaign that saw him bring home a Silver Slugger Award by posting a .309/.399/.560/.959 slash line along with 106 runs scored, 32 home runs and 84 RBIs. However, it has certainly been a completely different story so far in 2026.

Despite some signs of life in recent weeks, Springer has been struggling to produce for the most part, compiling a .223 average, .693 OPS, with eight home runs and 21 RBIs in 58 total games played. With an on-base percentage of .314, which is slightly below league average, it may be time to utilize the 36-year-old veteran in other spots in the batting order other than the leadoff position for better run production at the top of the lineup.

P Max Scherzer

Max Scherzer may have had a heroic run with the Blue Jays during the 2025 MLB Playoffs. But this year has been a complete nightmare for the former three-time Cy Young winner. If Scherzer wasn’t on the sidelines due to injuries, he was largely ineffective when he did get into game action. In six starts this season, the 41-year-old right-hander has amassed a dismal 1-4 record with a 10.23 ERA, 1.73 WHIP while giving up more runs than even innings pitched.

The Jays and their beloved fanbase certainly don’t want Scherzer to go out this way, so he will likely still get a chance or two when he comes off the injured list, whether it be in the rotation or the bullpen. But if the results don’t improve significantly, Toronto may have no choice but to make a harsh but logical decision on the eight-time All-Star.

P Jeff Hoffman

The Blue Jays were betting on Jeff Hoffman having a resurgent 2026 season. After a strong showing during the 2025 MLB Playoffs, that gamble has failed to quite an extent. Not only has Hoffman lost his closer’s role, he has struggled in helping Toronto lock down key victories while giving away a few as well. On the year, Hoffman has blown three saves while registering another five losses, in addition to a bloated 4.84 ERA and 1.50 WHIP despite being a strikeout machine.

Not to mention his latest blemish where he literally threw the game away for the Blue Jays on an errant throw on a pickoff play on Wednesday against the Houston Astros. Toronto definitely needs Hoffman to be more consistent down the stretch for him to remain a vital piece of their relief corps going forward.

1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

It may seem weird to find the Blue Jays’ $500 million franchise player in this category. We all remember what Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did during the 2025 postseason to power the Jays all the way to Game 7 of the World Series. However, Guerrero has suffered a massive power outage so far in his 2026 campaign with Toronto.

Despite hitting a respectable .277 in 76 total games played, the 27-year-old star first baseman has registered just four home runs and 32 RBIs over that time frame. That translates to just NINE home runs and 68 RBIs over a full 162-game schedule, which would be his worst season ever excluding the 2020 COVID-shortened campaign.

Who knows where the Blue Jays might be right now if Guerrero had been producing vintage Vladdy style. Nevertheless, the Jays need a big second half from their face of the franchise if they want to have any chance of being a legitimate contender this year.

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