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Toronto Blue Jays: 3 factors which will impact success in June

By Jose Alfonso Taboada

May 28, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) and center fielder Kevin Pillar (11) take batting practice before a game against the Texas Rangers at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
May 28, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) and center fielder Kevin Pillar (11) take batting practice before a game against the Texas Rangers at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 29, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Ezequiel Carrera (3) slaps hands with first baseman Justin Smoak (14) while third baseman Russell Martin (55) greets center fielder Kevin Pillar (14) as they celebrate a 17-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds lat Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 29, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Ezequiel Carrera (3) slaps hands with first baseman Justin Smoak (14) while third baseman Russell Martin (55) greets center fielder Kevin Pillar (14) as they celebrate a 17-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds lat Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

1) An easier month for the Blue Jays

Somehow and some way, the Blue Jays turned the month of May into their own personal playground and are within reach of .500, a record that didn’t sound possible with the way April unfolded.

Now that June is upon us, with the way the team is playing, it’s very likely they could reach that mark. Their opponents in the month of June combine for a .496 record as of May 30, a few points down from the record of their May opponents.

To start the month, the Blue Jays take on the red-hot New York Yankees for a four-game series at Rogers Centre. The Yankees now dominate the American League East. As well, just like the month before, a big help came from this man who leads the MLB in home runs:

From there, the team travel out west to start a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics between June 5-7. Then, they wrap up their road trip in their home away from home, heading to Safeco Field to take on the Mariners.

After that road trip, another homestand begins with two games against the Tampa Bay Rays. Two days later, it’s the start of Father’s Day weekend. They welcome the Chicago White Sox for a three-game weekend series.

This is where things get interesting. Right after the White Sox series, they head over to playoff rival Texas Rangers for a four-game series. Who knows what’ll happen this time? I don’t think you need a reminder for the last time the Blue Jays were in Texas.

But just in case:

Once the fireworks settle down in Texas (assuming there will be any), the Blue Jays visit the Kansas City Royals for a weekend series.

Finally to close out the month, the Blue Jays see the Baltimore Orioles for three games, then start a series against the Boston Red Sox that takes us into July.

The month will be crucial for Toronto as it might determine if they’ll be contender or sellers at the trade deadline. However, as will be discussed in the next slide, now the team is almost 100 percent healthy, there might be hope.

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