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Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Orioles, Rays: 1 July bold prediction for every AL East team

ByScott Roche|
May 19, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (35) and relief pitcher Yennier Cano (78) leave the field after the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 19, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (35) and relief pitcher Yennier Cano (78) leave the field after the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
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DENVER, COLORADO – JULY 13: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays stands on defense during the 91st MLB All-Star Game at Coors Field on July 13, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO – JULY 13: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays stands on defense during the 91st MLB All-Star Game at Coors Field on July 13, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)

Bold prediction: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. takes team lead in home runs

Three months into the season, you would have expected more than 11 home runs for the Blue Jays power-hitting first baseman. The power has not been there, but he did hit back-to-back homers against the Oakland Athletics, which could be a sign that the power is coming back.

Bo Bichette is the Toronto leader in home runs with 14, followed by Dalton Varsho and Guerreo, Jr. with 12, and George Springer has 11. It has not been the first half of the season that the Blue Jays would have liked to have had, stuck at the bottom of the division standings with the Yankees and Red Sox. They are in a position to grab a playoff spot with a wild card berth.

The 2023 story of Toronto has been one night they get the pitching, but not much offense, then they get an offensive outburst, and they don’t get the pitching. Alek Manoah has struggled and those struggles reached the point of being sent to the Florida League to figure things out.

The Blue Jays’ offense centers around Guerrero and his power, which has not been there in the first three months consistently. He’s a hitter who can hit them in bunches and July is the perfect month for him to get hot and take over the team lead from Bichette.

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