MLB: 5 teams that may shock us all in a unique 2020 season

It won’t be easy, but the Toronto Blue Jays could sneak their way into the MLB playoffs this year.

The Toronto Blue Jays are likely another year or two away from being serious contenders, but they do bring an exciting young core into the 2020 season in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Bo Bichette, and Cavan Biggio.

Navigating through the season against New York, Boston, and Tampa Bay will be hard enough, but adding in contests against Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Washington make the 2020 schedule even more challenging for Toronto. However, this could be the year that opens a lot of eyes to the Blue Jays as they begin their quest to take control of the AL East.

The lineup will have plenty of nights where they pile on the runs, especially when Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Teoscar Hernandez and Randal Grichuk are all clicking, but the major question marks come with the starting rotation.

Toronto added a solid piece in Hyun-Jin Ryu this offseason, but it’s not clear if the rest of the rotation will be able to get the job done on a routine basis, even in a shortened season. Both Tanner Roark (33) and Chase Anderson (32) were added and are expected to round out the top of the rotation with Ryu.

Jays fans can find comfort in knowing that prized pitching prospect Nate Pearson will be a rotation fixture shortly. The flamethrower went a combined 5-4 with a 2.30 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, .176 average against, and 119 strikeouts in 101.2 innings across High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A last season.

Toronto’s tough schedule will be a good test for this young group who should take a major step forward in the very near future. Anyone can catch fire this MLB season and if the young kids in Toronto’s lineup really click, AL East pitching staffs are going to have a hard time recording outs.