3 reasons the Blue Jays still have what it takes to contend, 2 why they do not

Injuries

The Blue Jays have been remarkably healthy this season, missing the second-fewest man games in the Majors due to injury. In terms of the law of averages, something surely has to give at some point?

The previously mentioned rotation is a perfect example of how fortunate the Blue Jays have been. They were the last team this season to have a pitcher miss a start due to injury, and even then Gausamn only missed one start.

Again though, how realisitic is it for the rotation to remain so injury-free with still a third of the regular season remaining? Given the uncertainty surrounding Ryu and Manoah, losing anyone else for even a month could be disastrous.

In this respect, the Blue Jays have been given a couple of genuine scares recently, to remind them just how healthy (and fortunate) they've been. One is Romano, who is currently on the injured list due to a reoccurrence of a back issue.

Fortunately for the Blue Jays, the two-time All-Star is not expected to be out long, with him throwing for the first time on Wednesday. In addition, Hicks' acquisition provides more than adequate cover at the closer position.

More alarming, was the recent injury to Bo Bichette, with plenty of uncertainty surrounding his status. He eventually also went to the injured list, with right knee patellar tendonitis.

Like Romano, Bichette is not expected to have a lengthy absence, although even mild tendonitis can take three weeks to recover from. This could feel like a lifetime, when it comes to not having the two-time AL hit leader in the lineup.

This is genuinely not some attempt to be a prophet of doom, but these things do have a way of evening out eventually. One last thing to consider, as pointed out by Charles Kime, the Blue Jays are the fourth-oldest team in the Majors.