The 2022 season was a qualified success for the Toronto Blue Jays, who snagged a wild card playoff berth in the American League but bowed out quickly, getting swept at home by the Seattle Mariners. The Blue Jays had been favored to win the division by many sports betting outlets, but despite winning 92 games, they finished seven games back of the New York Yankees. They have become a less offensively focused team, letting Lourdes Gurriel Jr and Teoscar Hernandez go and replacing them with Daulton Varsho and Kevin Kiermaier, more defensively minded players. Let’s look at some MLB betting predictions for Canada’s only MLB franchise.
MLB News: 2023 Toronto Blue Jays Predictions
Danny Jansen puts the offense on his back
Jansen spent a lot of the 2022 season struggling; as of August 20, his batting average was an unimpressive .197. Then, he sat out a couple of games, and came back on fire. He hit .344 and posted a 1.066 OPS in 93 at-bats, with 15 extra-base hits. His batting average for the season rose 48 points higher than his career average coming into the season. He has dealt with injuries through the last few seasons, but a healthy Jansen can do damage with his bat. Catchers who can hit well come at a premium in MLB, and he could win the Silver Slugger at the catcher position if he can stay healthy and productive all season long.
Cavan Biggio emerges as the regular second baseman
In the first two seasons of his career, Biggio has appeared in 159 games, hitting .240 with a .798 OPS. He had 33 doubles, 24 home runs and 76 RBI. However, injuries in 2021 and 2022 have also seen him sidelined with several injuries, keeping the onetime MVP at Double-A from turning into a regular in the bigs. However, he is coming into spring training healthy. Brandon Belt’s signing means that there is likely no room for him at first base, and Whit Merrifield’s play has given him the inside track at the third outfield position. That means that Biggio’s best chance to break into the lineup is at second base, where the incumbent starter, Santiago Espinal, struggled at the plate over the second half, hitting just .252 with five extra base in his last 40 plate appearances. If Biggio can stay healthy and earn a spot with his bat, he could take over Espinal’s position and give the Blue Jays another solid combination of glove and bat.
Daulton Varsho enters the AL MVP conversation
Varsho came over from Arizona in the off-season after his first full year in the big leagues. He posted 53 extra base hits and 74 RBI in 531 at-bats. Varsho looks like the full-time left fielder in Toronto for this coming season, even though he only has 11 career starts in that part of the outfield. His athleticism should allow him to excel there, so long as he can concentrate on learning the defense for that one spot. He started 103 games in Arizona last year but had three different defensive positions, including catcher. Without the wear and tear that comes from catching, he could break out with his bat. He could hit 30-40 home runs and drive in close to 100 runs this season, and if he can also play solid defense, he will enter the lower ranks of the AL MVP conversation. With Shohei Ohtani entering his contract season, and several other key stars in the junior circuit on the rise, Varsho isn’t likely to win the trophy this time around, but we will see his ceiling continue to climb.
2023 Season Prediction
AL Wild Card, advance to ALDS, lose before ALCS
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