Why the Blue Jays won't have history on their side in quest to return to World Series

The Toronto Blue Jays have a big task ahead of them in 2026. After barely missing out on winning the World Series in 2025, expectations are high for the Blue Jays this season. However, history has not been kind to teams the year after losing the World Series. Since 2000, only two teams have won the World Series the year after losing.

The 2014-15 Kansas City Royals have a few similarities to the 2025-26 Blue Jays. The Royals reached the World Series for the first time in 29 years in 2014, only to lose to the San Francisco Giants. In 2015, the Royals had their "Unfinished Business Tour."

Why the Blue Jays won't have history on their side in quest to return to World Series

Blue Jays fans likely remember this well. That season, the Blue Jays made the postseason for the first time since winning it all in 1993. After reverse-sweeping the Texas Rangers, the Blue Jays' magical season was ended by the Royals in Game 6 of the ALCS. While the memory may sting for Blue Jays fans, perhaps this season it can be used as a sign of hope. After taking down the Blue Jays, the Royals beat the New York Mets in five games to win the franchise's second World Series.

The only other team to win the World Series the year after losing (since 2000) was the 2022 Houston Astros. In 2021, the Astros lost to the Atlanta Braves in Game 6 of the World Series. The next season, they beat the Philadelphia Phillies in six games.

A fun (or not) fact about the Astros revenge tour is that Freddy Freeman caught the final out for the Braves in 2021. As Blue Jays fans may not want to remember, Freeman also caught the final out for the LA Dodgers in 2025. Does that mean anything? Probably not, but wouldn't it be funny if it happened again?

Since 2000, six teams have failed to reach the playoffs the year after losing the World Series. Two teams have lost during the Wild Card round. Seven teams have lost in the divisional series, including the New York Yankees last season, who lost to the Blue Jays. Seven made it to the championship series, while only two made it back to the World Series.

History is not in the Blue Jays' favour in 2026. Although, it wasn't in favour of the 2015 Royals or the 2022 Astros either. The Blue Jays have a long road ahead of them to get back to the World Series, especially after losing Bo Bichette during the offseason.

Despite the loss of Bichette, the Blue Jays had a productive offseason. They improved their starting rotation by signing Dylan Cease. They added depth with pitcher Cody Ponce, and brought in Japanese infielder Kazuma Okamoto. Whether the additions will be enough to offset the losses remains to be seen. While history may not be on the Blue Jays' side, manager John Schneider made it clear what the Blue Jays' expectations are for 2026.

"We're not defending the AL East. We're not defending the American League. We're attacking 2026 like we did in '25, or any other year," Schneider said while speaking with the media at spring training. "When you're trying to win the division, you're trying to win the World Series."