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Toronto Blue Jays: 3 Factors Which Will Affect Success in May

By Jose Alfonso Taboada

Jul 20, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (left) and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 20, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (left) and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Blue Jays
Apr 14, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Justin Smoak (14) hits a single in the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre. The Orioles won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

3) Blue Jays tend to wake up in May

To wrap this all up, let’s look at the overall team performance.

The month of April never treats the Blue Jays kindly. In fact, as of April 23, the Blue Jays secured their fifth straight losing record in the first month of the season.

The offence certainly wasn’t showing too much during April. The Blue Jays slashed .228/.295/.350, ranking 28th, 26th and 28th respectively.

As for the pitching? Also dreadful, posting a 4.14 ERA, allowing 14 home runs and blowing eight saves in the span of the month.

However, history has shown that May can be very friendly for the Blue Jays.

In 2016, the Blue Jays finished 17-12 in May, after having a 11-14 record in April. In 2014, after finishing 12-14, they turned it around with a crushing May, by going 21-9.

Not only can the month of May be friendly for the team, but players individually can be shown to step up as well.

Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin received some very harsh criticism, after going 1-for-27 to start the season.  He slashed .048/.259/.095 during that time frame.

Many thought it was the end of the line for the Blue Jays catcher. However, he’s known to have a slow start.

In 2015, Martin had a rough start to his Blue Jays tenure, going .197/.367/.410 in April and had an even worse April in 2016, hitting .150/.224/.167. Yet once May arrived, he turned it around both times.

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In May 2015, Martin dramatically improved his offence, hitting .327/.362.541. The following year? Martin went .230/.284/.345 at the dish.

Switching over to pitching, to highlight one of many players, let’s focus on right handed starter Marco Estrada. Like Martin, Estrada has had his fair share of slow Aprils.

In 2016, Estrada was 1-2 with a 2.92 ERA, 25 strikeouts and an opponent batting average of .239. The following month he turned it around, going 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA, 33 strikeouts and an opponent batting average of 1.38.

Thankfully, Estrada’s current April hasn’t been that bad, posting a 2.70 ERA and finishing the month with 33 strikeouts. Despite four of his five games not having a decision going to him, history has shown he steps up to the mound.

May will be a crucial month for the Blue Jays in terms of their team stats. With them winning four of their last eight, one can hope May is the month where the team turn it around and try to salvage their season.

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