MLB media believes that the Toronto Blue Jays are in for something special this year

MLB media believes that the Toronto Blue Jays are in for something special this year.

As the Toronto Blue Jays prepare for their Opening Day tilt against the formidable St. Louis Cardinals, MLB pundits and insiders continue to roll out predictions for the season, including some intriguing prophecies about the Jays. While there's a chance this Blue Jays club is actually a bit underrated, some around the industry suggest big things could be on the horizon.

Anyone halfway paying attention knows how talented the 2023 version of the Blue Jays is and how dangerous they could be this year. It's not just fans who are eager to see Canada's lone MLB team finally reach its potential.

CBS Sports polled their MLB staff for season results, and not surprisingly, the Blue Jays take a prominent spot in the predictions. Three of the six experts chose the star-studded Jays to win the AL East. The remaining experts have them finishing second to the Yankees and grabbing the first Wild Card spot.

The most exciting prediction comes courtesy of Mike Axisa, who pegs the Jays to exorcise their Wild Card demons from 2022 with a run to the World Series. While Axisa thinks the Astros are the best team in the American League, he's picking the Jays to emerge victorious from the ALCS.

"They have a strong 1-2-3 punch atop the rotation (Alek Manoah, Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt) and they added a few much-needed lefty bats (Brandon Belt, Daulton Varsho) this offseason," Axisa argues. "I like the way they're built for a short postseason series and believe this is the year they break through and advance in October."

While Axisa has the Jays losing to the Atlanta Braves in a rematch of the 1992 World Series, he's not the only MLB pundit with thoughts of the bluebirds making an appearance in the Fall Classic.

The Athletic's Jim Bowden includes the Jays in a few of his pre-season prognostications. His first prediction is the Reds making good on their publicly stated consideration of trading Joey Votto to his hometown team at the deadline, giving Votto "the opportunity to play in the postseason and maybe even the World Series."

Bowden thinks that after they win the AL East, Toronto will conquer the American League side of the bracket and meet the San Diego Padres in their first World Series appearance since 1993.

However, like Axisa, Bowden picks the Jays to leave empty-handed, with the loaded Padres taking home the title.

While Toronto fans might shake their head at MLB experts taking the Jays to the World Series without the conviction to pick them to win it all, anything is possible once the games begin. It's up to the players to live up to their potential and determine the season between the lines.