Don’t look now, but Toronto Blue Jays making a run at Wild Card

Fans and analysts wrote off the Toronto Blue Jays essentially by the end of April. Now the team from up north is just three games back from a Wild Card berth.

At this point in the season, especially in the American League, any team that is playing well deserves some attention.

Being that Toronto won six of its last eight games and Josh Donaldson is on a torrid stretch, the club should be recognized.

The Blue Jays shocked fans in the first half with how poorly they played. Analysts immediately considered them a bottom feeder in the AL East. But they were never completely eliminated from contention, and they are now back in the mix for the second Wild Card spot.

Toronto claimed four of its previous five series, bringing them to within three games of a playoff berth. The lone loss came against Houston, which is by far the best team in the AL.

Donaldson has finally woken up from what seems like a season-long slumber.

The former All-Star, who’s battled a hamstring injury much of the year, owns a .400 average in August, smacking nine home runs with 21 RBI. He’s raised his slash on the season from .249/.369/.463 to .272/.397/.543 through 15 games this month.

Justin Smoak, who’s carried the team offensively at times, chimed in Thursday with a home run and three RBI. The first baseman has proven on several occasions that he’s in the midst of a breakout year. The left-handed slugger leads Toronto in essentially every offensive category other than walks and doubles.

More importantly, starting pitchers are throwing better. J.A. Happ is finally reaching the level he was at last season, when he finished second in the AL in wins. He yielded just three runs in his previous three outings across 18 2/3 innings.

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Marco Estrada looked like he was about the turn the corner following a rough stretch the past couple of months, but his last start was a dud. Prior to Tuesday’s outing against the Rays, though, he had allowed just six runs through 26 innings, while racking up 22 strikeouts. His command is still a major issue, but he’s a veteran, so he could figure it out quickly in the last few months.

The bullpen has made improvements throughout the past month as well, primarily Roberto Osuna. He did have a blown save earlier this month – allowing four runs in the process, yikes – but has been nails ever since. He’s recorded five straight saves over the past 10 days.

Toronto has a chance to gain some ground on the Angels in the next few weeks, but it will be difficult. Critical series loom with Chicago, Tampa Bay and Boston before August ends. If the Jays manage to win more than half of them, they could work themselves back into contention.

Next: Bradley Zimmer mired in ridiculously long slump

If not, then manager John Gibbons and company could be staying home during October.