These 5 players carried the Blue Jays to a winning month in August

The Toronto Blue Jays saw a huge boost to their postseason chances in August. They went 17-11 and pulled within 1.5 games of the Cleveland Guardians for the third and final spot in the Wild Card race. Toronto scored their second-most runs in a month (115), trailing only May's 122.

They also went 20-for-23 in stolen-base attempts, a part of the game where the team has been lacking, ranking 25th for the season. It's the first time they have attempted 20 or more stolen bases in a month since April 2025.

We saw standout performances from some usual contributors, but also a new face who has brought a surge to the offense. If the Blue Jays want to reach their fourth postseason trip in five seasons, they will need to continue their stellar play. They just finished winning a key series against the Guardians to pull within 0.5 games.

Luckily, they also have the second-easiest remaining strength of schedule. None of their remaining opponents have a winning record, and they have a series or two against the Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers, who are also vying for the last Wild Card spot.

It was a team effort last month as the Blue Jays relied on this core five

Alejandro Kirk

August stats: 102 PA, .341/.412/.534, 9 R, 5 HR, 20 RBI, .946 OPS, 160 wRC+

Kirk was by far the team's top performer in August. He shared the home run lead for the month with Nathan Lukes. It’s the first time since April that Kazuma Okamoto didn’t hold the monthly home run lead.

Kirk's five homers topped the number he hit over the rest of the season (3). The same goes for his 20 August RBIs, knocking 13 in during the rest of the season. However, he missed a majority of the first half of 2026.

The Blue Jays catcher suffered a fractured thumb on April 3 from a foul tip off the bat of Austin Hays of the Chicago White Sox. It was expected to be a six-week absence, but Kirk didn't return until June 12. He struggled throughout the remainder of the month, slashing .205/.234/.295 and a .529 OPS. However, the lackluster performance is understandable while adjusting to having a screw placed in his thumb. The backstop has turned it around in July and is still one of the hottest hitters in all of MLB.

Brett Bateman

August Stats: 88 PA, .333/.384/.410, 10 R, 0 HR, 7 RBI, .794 OPS, 127 wRC+

Bateman came over in the trade that sent Kevin Gausman to the Chicago Cubs. The prospect played two games with Triple-A Buffalo before receiving his call to the big leagues. His impact has been far more meaningful than his statistics suggest.

He gave the Blue Jays an everyday leadoff hitter. Knowing you have a weapon to start the game who can consistently get on base, and who, when on base, can draw the attention of the defense, gives a boost to the rest of the batting order. Including the rookie, 15 different players have led off for the Blue Jays this season, with George Springer holding the role in 62 games.

Bateman's impact is clear and came at a perfect time for the Blue Jays. He's excelling at getting on base to begin his MLB career and will be instrumental in helping the team nab a postseason berth.

George Springer

August Stats: 92 PA, .321/.370/.488, 13 R, 2 HR, 11 RBI, .858 OPS, 141 wRC+

Springer has thrived in the second half of the season. His 24 RBIs in July and August alone surpassed the 21 he produced in the entire first half. The veteran was also more aggressive on the bases, stealing four bases in August, his highest monthly total this season. There were rumors of Springer possibly being dealt at the trade deadline, but the Blue Jays look smart for keeping him in town. The team will lean on his 13 years of experience to guide them through the battle September will bring.

Dylan Cease

August Stats: 31 IP. 2.03 ERA, 43 SO, 13 BB, 0.94 WHIP

Cease has been an outstanding signing this season. He's second in the AL Cy Young race, trailing Cam Schlitter. The 35.8 percent strikeout rate in August tied May's production for his second-highest monthly rate this season. The fireballer held batters to an impressive .144 batting average in August and an elite 2.94 FIP.

Cease's Baseball Savant profile is full of red, with eight pitching stats in the 86th percentile or higher. His offspeed pitches have been steadily fooling hitters, as well. Out of his six pitches, he relies on his slider and changeup 40 percent of the time. They've been making hitters look silly with a 43.8 and 49.6 percent whiff rate. The Blue Jays will rely heavily on their ace to get wins to help them grab the final postseason spot.

Mason Fluharty

August Stats: 12 IP, 0.00 ERA, 8 SO, 6 BB, 0.67 WHIP

It's been a roller coaster of a season for Fluharty. With Brendon Little's struggles and trips between Triple-A Buffalo and the majors, Fluharty has been the go-to lefty out of the bullpen. He had a 7.36 ERA in April and a 5.56 ERA in June, both over 11 innings. However, the southpaw was electric in August, posting 12 scoreless innings.

He also held batters to an unbelievable .054 average. The lefty faced 45 batters and allowed only two hits. Fluharty is on pace for 85 appearances, which would be good for second in the Blue Jays' history book. It'd trail Mark Eichhorn's 89 appearances, set in 1987. If the Blue Jays make the postseason, Fluharty has a chance to break the 39-year-old record. He made 11 appearances in last season's magical run that included a bye during the Wild Card round, so there's an opportunity for Fluharty.

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