Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
In a March preseason, poll 43 ESPN “experts” predicted who would win each division in MLB. Twenty of these writers picked the Toronto Blue Jays, while a grand total of zero picked the Boston Red Sox. Las Vegas had the Blue Jays as a +160 favorite to win the AL East, while Boston was +550.
What a difference a month makes.
As the Red Sox and Blue Jays set to commence their second series in Toronto, they couldn’t be further apart. Boston sports the top record in MLB at 18-7, while Toronto sits at the bottom of the division with a 9-17 record. The Red Sox run differential sits at +40, while Toronto’s is -35. So what has happened to make these “experts” seem so amateurish?
For the Blue Jays, their problems were not hard to see coming. After only 10 games, All-Star acquisition Jose Reyes went down with yet another injury. This is business as usual for the Blue Jays shortstop. Although he played a complete season last year for the Miami Marlins, he was riddled with injuries in his final three seasons for the New York Mets.
Additionally, the Blue Jays starting rotation of R.A. Dickey, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Brandon Morrow, and J.A. Happ was supposed to be one of the best in baseball but unfortunately, Happ has been their best starter, which is never a good thing.
He is the only one with an ERA under 4.00, while the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, Dickey, has been wildly inconsistent. Johnson, Beuhrle, and Morrow have been downright terrible, combining for a record of 1-4 and an ERA over 6.00.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox starting pitching has been dominant. Their worst starter has been Felix Doubront, who still sports a respectable 4.24 ERA. The Jon Lester-Clay Buccholz 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation has been the best in baseball, combining for a record of 9-0.
35-year-old Ryan Dempster has been everything the Red Sox wanted and more, leading the team with 43 strikeouts and an ERA of just 3.20. The combination of John Lackey and Allen Webster have been respectable as fifth starters.
The Red Sox bats have outproduced their Toronto counterparts all season. Dustin Pedroia seems like he has reverted back to his MVP form with a .330 average. Daniel Nava has been the surprise of the season, hitting .310 with 16 RBI, good for second on the team. David Ortiz returned from injury and has been insatiable. He is hitting over .500 with 11 RBI in just 31 at-bats.
The Blue Jays’ star-studded lineup has been abysmal. Melky Cabrera is their leading everyday hitter, sporting an average of just .250. Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion have turned into Adam Dunn. Both have provided power but with batting averages that hover around the .200 mark.
Can the Red Sox possibly continue to be this good? Can the Blue Jays possibly continue to be this bad? Feel free to share your thoughts to keep the conversation going.
Aidan Kearney also writes for his own blog aidanfromworcester.com. Follow him on Twitter @aidanfromworc
