Blue Jays have a .745 OPS problem that's a major reason for their struggles originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Toronto Blue Jays are not having a good 2026 season, which is a major letdown following the 2025 season, when they were just one win shy of winning the World Series.
They fell so far back that they sold at the MLB trade deadline. Fortunately, they're back in the race right now and might even make the postseason. But they have a major issue that could hold them back from making the push for the postseason.
As Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report highlighted, that issue is the .745 OPS mark that not one single regular hitter in the lineup is beating right now. The Blue Jays' offense is incredibly lackluster, and this .745 OPS figure shows it.
Blue Jays have to resolve .745 OPS offensive problem"Toronto Blue Jays (61-65): Zero regulars with an OPS of .745 or better," Miller writes. "At the start of play on Monday, there were 450 players across MLB with at least 80 plate appearances this season, 142 of whom have an OPS of .740 or better."
However, despite a 140-player pool for 30 MLB teams, the Blue Jays somehow don't have a single player whose posted at least a .745 OPS this season.
Looking at the Blue Jays' statistics, Alejandro Kirk, who has 166 at-bats this season, is closest with a .743 OPS. Jesus Sanchez has a .741 OPS, and Kazuma Okamoto has a .728 OPS.
All-Star Ernie Clement has a .709 OPS, while Yohendrick Pinango has a .702 OPS and Charles McAdoo has a .701 OPS. Every other hitter is below a .700 OPS, meaning they're all well below average offensively.
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and his .693 OPS are a huge reason why the Blue Jays don't have a .745 OPS hitter or better, as his struggles this season have been a huge reason for the team's lack of success.
Daulton Varsho, before his trade, had just a .682 OPS, and the rest of the offense hasn't been any better. Without a single hitter at a .745 OPS or better, the Blue Jays lack trustworthy hitters.
Making the postseason with such a lineup is going to be very difficult and require some timely offense and incredible pitching.
Thanks to a very weak American League Wild Card field, the Blue Jays are just 0.5 games back. But this .745 OPS figure is one that could come back to haunt them as the year rolls along.
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