4 expectations that Blue Jays fans have entering the 2026 season 

With the start of the 2026 MLB season now upon us, the Toronto Blue Jays will be raring to go with their season opener taking place this Friday (Mar. 27) against the Athletics. The Blue Jays will be entering the year with high expectations after reaching all the way to Game 7 of the World Series in 2025. Those high expectations and even higher hopes are on the line once the first pitch is thrown at Rogers Centre.

Blue Jays fans are watching for these four stories to play out in 2026 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. should perform like an MVP

Following his MVP-calibre 2021 campaign, many had previously expected Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to maintain that form going forward. Guerrero did follow it up with solid numbers in his succeeding four seasons, but they just weren’t quite up to the level that one would classify as superstar/MVP numbers.

However, after watching the Blue Jays’ star first baseman post elite numbers during their 2025 postseason run where he batted .397 with a 1.289 OPS along with eight home runs and 15 RBIs in 18 playoff games, he has picked up right where he left off this spring.

In eight Spring Training games, Guerrero has compiled a .444 average, 1.267 OPS, along with three runs scored, one home run and four RBIs. Not to mention his encouraging performance during the World Baseball Classic where he hit .444 with a 1.420 OPS, with five runs scored, two home runs and eight RBIs in just five games of action. As a result, with such consistency over an extended period of time, Guerrero seems destined for a huge 2026 campaign ahead.

Kazuma Okamoto needs to replace some of the lost production from a departed Bo Bichette 

During the past offseason, the biggest bat that the Blue Jays lost was that of Bo Bichette. At the same time, the biggest bat that they had gained was from the signing of Japanese star Kazuma Okamoto. As unfair as it may sound, Okamoto will no doubt be compared to the former Blue Jays star.

Bichette provided massive offensive production for the Blue Jays during his seven seasons with the ballclub, averaging 20+ home runs and 90+ RBIs while batting over .290 on a yearly basis in helping Toronto return to prominence. Okamoto, who will be playing predominantly at third base for the Blue Jays this season, also happens to be an infielder who has put up huge offensive numbers as well, while playing in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan.

Blue Jays fans will fully expect Okamoto to translate the success that he had in Japan to North America and replace the lost production of Bichette seamlessly. At least his first impression this spring has looked good. Nevertheless, the pressure will be on Okamoto to deliver right out of the gate.

Dylan Cease will rise and become the ace of the Blue Jays pitching staff

The biggest offseason deal that the Blue Jays made this winter was the seven-year, $210 million mega deal that they gave to starter Dylan Cease. That was the richest contract ever handed out to a pitcher by Toronto in franchise history. But in doing so, Cease will be expected to deliver that value, meaning that Blue Jays fans will envision him becoming the team’s clear-cut ace over the course of the season.

After all, Cease has shown to be able to put up Cy Young-like numbers during his 2022 and 2024 campaigns where he was among the league leaders in ERA and strikeouts. However, he has also shown some inconsistencies, as exemplified in his 2023 and 2025 years where his ERA ballooned over 4.00 and WHIP over 1.30. Nevertheless, with the presence of Pete Walker in the organization, they will hope to iron out the kinks to make him a consistent elite pitcher over the long run.

Moreover, with Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber potentially entering free agency upon the season’s end, along with rookie Trey Yesavage still raw with his abilities, the Blue Jays will ultimately need Cease to step up and take over the No. 1 spot in their rotation going forward in order for future sustainable success.

The Blue Jays will win the AL East title and return to the World Series

Following their magical run last season, anything short of that this year will be a major disappointment for Blue Jays fans everywhere. Despite losing a few key players such as Bichette and Chris Bassitt, Toronto made some significant moves this offseason to bolster both their offense and pitching ahead of the 2026 season. 

Since the Blue Jays were able to capture the American League East division title last year, then they should be able to cruise to one this season with all the money that they have carefully invested to boost their roster this winter. 

After being spoiled last season, Blue Jays fans will want the team to take care of some unfinished business and get it done this time around in the World Series, even if the odds are somewhat against them. Therefore, like it or not, it will be a boom or bust year ahead for Toronto.