NEW YORK — Home runs plaster over imperfections.
The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers sit tied for baseball’s lead in dingers, with 41 each. The Yankees have three starters in the rotation with an ERA above 4.75. The Dodgers have already used nine different starting pitchers in 26 games. Both teams are still on pace to surpass 93 wins — rotation injuries rendered irrelevant with constant blasts to the bleachers.
Advertisement
The 2025 Toronto Blue Jays don’t have that luxury, hitting just 14 homers in 26 games, second-fewest in MLB. They must find a different way to win because they’re not a team built to punish with power.
“It’s baseball,” outfielder Nathan Lukes said. “This is a rollercoaster ride. Everyone is judging us off our lack of homers. Like that s—’s gonna happen. Every team is gonna go through it. Everyone’s just comparing us to the Yankees and the Cubs.”
This dearth of dingers isn’t new for Toronto, as the team ranked 26th in MLB with just 156 homers last season. That 2024 team — with injuries, underperformance, and the league’s worst bullpen — wasn’t able to find the powerless path to success. But one exists.
The Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers ranked 20th and 24th in homers last season and still made the postseason, both winning a wild card series. Every year since the postseason field expanded to 12 in 2022, at least two teams in MLB’s bottom-10 for home runs have made the playoffs.
| Year | Team | HR | RISP wRC+ | Team ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2024 |
20th |
8th |
8th |
|
|
2024 |
24th |
6th |
4th |
|
|
2023 |
22nd |
18th |
20th |
|
|
2023 |
22nd |
24th |
16th |
|
|
2023 |
24th |
8th |
1st |
|
|
2022 |
21st |
13th |
11th |
|
|
2022 |
25th |
16th |
4th |
|
|
2022 |
29th |
15th |
6th |
The eight franchises that overcame a lack of power to make the playoffs the last three years share commonalities: pitching and timely hitting. On average, these powerless postseason teams posted a 3.80 team ERA and 108 weighted runs created plus with runners in scoring position.
The 2022 Rays, the lone American League East team to find the postseason without power, didn’t have a single player surpass 20 homers. They still managed 86 wins with a top-10 rotation and bullpen. The ‘22 Rays also had six different players post a wRC+ over 110 with runners in scoring position, including Ji Man Choi’s absurd 166 mark.
“This game is a matter of scoring runs,” Lukas said. “Home runs are cool, but you’re not going to score all your runs off home runs. That’s not the game of baseball.”
The Blue Jays remain confident and adamant their power will come, but an alternative path is open. Toronto has the pitching part down. A strong rotation and a bullpen improved by the additions of Jeff Hoffman and Yimi García have the Blue Jays sitting 11th in team ERA (3.73).
Advertisement
The clutch knocks are a problem. Toronto entered Saturday ranked 27th in wRC+ with runners in scoring position (75), part of the reason they head into Sunday’s doubleheader against the Yankees at 13-13. Only the Chicago Cubs, who still lead baseball in runs scored, have left more runners on base than the Blue Jays. Alejandro Kirk came up with the exact timely knock Toronto needed to beat the Yankees on Friday, but he’s the only Blue Jays batter with more than two extra-base hits with runners in scoring position this year.
Last season, Toronto faced a similar early-season slump in the clutch. At the end of April they ranked dead last with a 66 wRC+ with runners on second or third. The Jays managed a 114 mark with RISP for the rest of the 2024 season, but an imploding pitching staff made it all irrelevant. This year, the Jays need both to align.
Even if Anthony Santander heats up in the summer months, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. starts launching, and Bo Bichette finds the seats, the 2025 Blue Jays won’t magically become a homer behemoth. Entering the season, FanGraphs’ Steamer projections forecasted just two Blue Jays to hit more than 20 homers. So, this team is tasked with finding another way and there is a proven path for power-hungry teams.
“I don’t think we’re built like a team that is just waiting to hit a three-run homer,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “We know that.”
(Top photo of Tyler Heineman and Jeff Hoffman celebrating Friday’s 4-2 win over the Yankees, which came courtesy of a clutch hit: Elsa / Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Bill Belichick’s UNC misses bowl eligibility after trick play by Duke
When Bill Belichick was introduced as UNC head coach 11 long months ago, he revealed, joked or lied that his first words as a child were "Beat Duke."His program fell short of that goal on Saturday, and the result is a disappointing season will officially end next weekend. The Tar Heels lost to Duke 32-25, pushing their record down to 4-7 and leaving them unable to reach bowl eligibility next week against NC State.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt wasn't just any loss to their biggest rivals either. At home, UNC had come back from down 24-10 to take a 25-24 lead early in the fourth quarter. That remained the score until the final three minutes, when the Blue Devils lined up for a go-ahead field goal that would have given the Tar Heels the ball back with more than two minutes left and a […]
Washington Spirit vs. Gotham FC, NWSL Championship: Trinity Rodman’s status hangs over title match
Two star-studded teams in the Washington Spirit and Gotham FC will meet in San Jose for the NWSL Championship, a competitive match likely in store as each side chases their second league title, but the big question looms -- will Trinity Rodman play?The pair took contrasting roads to the NWSL Championship, the No. 2 seed Spirit advancing as the favorites in their matchups while Gotham played spoiler as the No. 8 seed, eliminating the runaway NWSL Shield winners in the Kansas City Current and last year's champions Orlando Pride. To describe this as a David vs. Goliath-type game would be a misnomer, though, Gotham have been inconsistent, but they won the Championship just two years ago and boast an MVP nominee in Esther Gonzalez.While Gonzalez and new Gotham recruict Jaedyn Shaw headline Juan Carlos Amoros' team, the attention will also […]
Bills RB Ty Johnson fined $10,777 for pelvic-thrust TD celebration in win over Bucs
The NFL has fined Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson $10,777 for "obscene gestures" as part of a crackdown on unsportsmanlike conduct. Johnson did a thrust-heavy celebration after scoring a go-ahead touchdown in the Bills' win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 11.With less than a minute left in the first half, Johnson broke away on third-and-5 to sprint 52 yards for the touchdown. To celebrate, Johnson grabbed his leg, seemingly pretending to have sustained an injury (à la the Kansas City Current's Lo'eau LaBonta), and fell before grinding his pelvis against the ground twice.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBuffalo went on to win the game, 44-32, behind a six-touchdown night from quarterback Josh Allen.The fine comes a couple of weeks after Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle was fined $14,491 for a similar celebration. Dowdle did "two pumps" (i.e., thrusted his pelvis twice) […]
Kyle Shanahan says Brandon Aiyuk’s guarantees were voided in July: ‘It takes a lot to get a contract voided’
The news that Brandon Aiyuk has likely played his last game for the San Francisco 49ers was a surprise on Friday, but the situation has apparently been simmering for months.Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan declined to say what specifically led to a falling out between team and player — there was a report of frustrations over Aiyuk failing to participate in team meetings and other activities — while claiming the contract battle was out of his hands:"I'm not going to get into the specifics of that. There were a number of things from July that, to me, is more of the business side, dealing with lawyers and stuff, and contracts. Stuff that is really not my area of expertise."Aiyuk has spent all season on the physically unable to perform list with a knee injury, which […]
Papers: Bayern Munich watching Konate’s contract situation
The top stories and transfer rumours from Sunday's newspapers...Premier LeagueBayern Munich are watching Ibrahima Konate's contact situation closely, with Liverpool putting pressure on the French defender to make a decision on his future, according to reports - Mail on Sunday. Sunderland's Wilson Isidor is weighing up his international allegiances ahead of next year's World Cup - Sun on Sunday. ChampionshipBirmingham City want to turn their £1.2bn new home into a lair for the Lionesses - by making Sarina Wiegman's side long-term tenants - Sun on Sunday. Scottish football Oscar Cortes could be set for an unexpected return to Rangers, with Sporting Gijon reportedly considering the possibility of cutting his loan short - Sunday Mail. Kevin Muscat's decision not to become the new Rangers manager has been rewarded with another Chinese Super League title - Sunday Mail. Spreaker This content is […]
What time is the Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025? How to watch tonight’s F1 race
Tonight will be a late night for Formula 1 drivers. F1 is hitting the Las Vegas Strip Circuit for the Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix tonight at 11 p.m. ET. While that time is on the late side for East Coast viewers. it'll give fans in Europe a chance to start their day with a race where McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will continue their battle for first place. (You can check out all the latest standings here.)Tonight's Las Vegas Grand Prix will air on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and F1 TV Pro. Here's everything you need to know about F1 this season, including how to watch this weekend's race, along with the full 2025 F1 grand prix schedule.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHow to watch the 2025 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix:Date: Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025Time: 11 p.m. ETTV channels: ESPN, ESPN DeportesStreaming: […]
Related
Bill Belichick’s UNC misses bowl eligibility after trick play by Duke
When Bill Belichick was introduced as UNC head coach 11 long months ago, he revealed, joked or lied that his first words as a child were "Beat Duke."His program fell short of that goal on Saturday, and the result is a disappointing season will officially end next weekend. The Tar Heels lost to Duke 32-25, pushing their record down to 4-7 and leaving them unable to reach bowl eligibility next week against NC State.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt wasn't just any loss to their biggest rivals either. At home, UNC had come back from down 24-10 to take a 25-24 lead early in the fourth quarter. That remained the score until the final three minutes, when the Blue Devils lined up for a go-ahead field goal that would have given the Tar Heels the ball back with more than two minutes left and a […]
Washington Spirit vs. Gotham FC, NWSL Championship: Trinity Rodman’s status hangs over title match
Two star-studded teams in the Washington Spirit and Gotham FC will meet in San Jose for the NWSL Championship, a competitive match likely in store as each side chases their second league title, but the big question looms -- will Trinity Rodman play?The pair took contrasting roads to the NWSL Championship, the No. 2 seed Spirit advancing as the favorites in their matchups while Gotham played spoiler as the No. 8 seed, eliminating the runaway NWSL Shield winners in the Kansas City Current and last year's champions Orlando Pride. To describe this as a David vs. Goliath-type game would be a misnomer, though, Gotham have been inconsistent, but they won the Championship just two years ago and boast an MVP nominee in Esther Gonzalez.While Gonzalez and new Gotham recruict Jaedyn Shaw headline Juan Carlos Amoros' team, the attention will also […]
Bills RB Ty Johnson fined $10,777 for pelvic-thrust TD celebration in win over Bucs
The NFL has fined Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson $10,777 for "obscene gestures" as part of a crackdown on unsportsmanlike conduct. Johnson did a thrust-heavy celebration after scoring a go-ahead touchdown in the Bills' win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 11.With less than a minute left in the first half, Johnson broke away on third-and-5 to sprint 52 yards for the touchdown. To celebrate, Johnson grabbed his leg, seemingly pretending to have sustained an injury (à la the Kansas City Current's Lo'eau LaBonta), and fell before grinding his pelvis against the ground twice.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBuffalo went on to win the game, 44-32, behind a six-touchdown night from quarterback Josh Allen.The fine comes a couple of weeks after Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle was fined $14,491 for a similar celebration. Dowdle did "two pumps" (i.e., thrusted his pelvis twice) […]
Kyle Shanahan says Brandon Aiyuk’s guarantees were voided in July: ‘It takes a lot to get a contract voided’
The news that Brandon Aiyuk has likely played his last game for the San Francisco 49ers was a surprise on Friday, but the situation has apparently been simmering for months.Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan declined to say what specifically led to a falling out between team and player — there was a report of frustrations over Aiyuk failing to participate in team meetings and other activities — while claiming the contract battle was out of his hands:"I'm not going to get into the specifics of that. There were a number of things from July that, to me, is more of the business side, dealing with lawyers and stuff, and contracts. Stuff that is really not my area of expertise."Aiyuk has spent all season on the physically unable to perform list with a knee injury, which […]
Papers: Bayern Munich watching Konate’s contract situation
The top stories and transfer rumours from Sunday's newspapers...Premier LeagueBayern Munich are watching Ibrahima Konate's contact situation closely, with Liverpool putting pressure on the French defender to make a decision on his future, according to reports - Mail on Sunday. Sunderland's Wilson Isidor is weighing up his international allegiances ahead of next year's World Cup - Sun on Sunday. ChampionshipBirmingham City want to turn their £1.2bn new home into a lair for the Lionesses - by making Sarina Wiegman's side long-term tenants - Sun on Sunday. Scottish football Oscar Cortes could be set for an unexpected return to Rangers, with Sporting Gijon reportedly considering the possibility of cutting his loan short - Sunday Mail. Kevin Muscat's decision not to become the new Rangers manager has been rewarded with another Chinese Super League title - Sunday Mail. Spreaker This content is […]
What time is the Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025? How to watch tonight’s F1 race
Tonight will be a late night for Formula 1 drivers. F1 is hitting the Las Vegas Strip Circuit for the Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix tonight at 11 p.m. ET. While that time is on the late side for East Coast viewers. it'll give fans in Europe a chance to start their day with a race where McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will continue their battle for first place. (You can check out all the latest standings here.)Tonight's Las Vegas Grand Prix will air on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and F1 TV Pro. Here's everything you need to know about F1 this season, including how to watch this weekend's race, along with the full 2025 F1 grand prix schedule.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHow to watch the 2025 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix:Date: Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025Time: 11 p.m. ETTV channels: ESPN, ESPN DeportesStreaming: […]
Be the first to leave a comment