June Outlook on the 2026 Blue Jays

The Blue Jays are struggling through a season defined by inconsistency, with a lineup that averages just 1.45 runs in the first four innings—the second-worst in baseball—and a core player, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., underperforming despite his historical June power surge. The hosts dissect the team’s lack of predictability: the rotation gives them a chance to win, but the defense and offense are all over the map. Vladdy’s 300 OPS and seventh-place ranking in extra-base hits on the team are seen as embarrassing, with the hosts calling his production 'empty calories'—a metaphor for junk food in baseball. Meanwhile, the Braves, led by a dominant bullpen and a 16-series win streak in the first 60 games of the season, are the best team in baseball, with Alex Anthopoulos joining the show to discuss their success. The conversation shifts to the future, with speculation about whether the Jays will trade for a 'light show' closer like Josh Hader, and how college baseball now mirrors pro-level analytics and tech. The episode ends on a note of cautious optimism: while the Jays are stuck in a cycle of 'two steps forward, one step back,' they still have time to turn things around before the trade deadline. Key takeaways include the need for Vladdy to produce runs, not just hits; the importance of Kevin Gossman’s ability to throw strike one; the Braves’ statistical dominance being more than just a fluke; and the growing influence of college baseball’s high-tech training centers.