Guerrero and Springer Power Blue Jays in September Push
The Toronto Blue Jays are in the thick of a fierce battle for the AL East crown, and right now, two of their biggest stars are carrying the weight of the offense. With Bo Bichette sidelined since early September due to a knee injury, the spotlight has shifted to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer, and both have stepped up in a massive way.
The Blue Jays have held onto their division lead since July, despite heavy pressure from the Yankees and Red Sox. A lot of that success has been built on their bats. This lineup ranks among the top ten in baseball for runs scored, holds the highest batting average at .269, and sits near the top in overall offensive production. Still, losing Bichette—who had been hitting .311 with a league-leading 44 doubles—was a huge blow. His absence left a hole that had to be filled if Toronto was going to keep its grip on the division.
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That’s where Guerrero and Springer came in. For Springer, this season has been a true bounce-back. After the worst year of his career in 2024, he’s enjoying what might be his best in a Blue Jays uniform at age 35. Splitting time between the outfield and DH, he’s leading the team with 29 home runs and a .942 OPS. And lately, he’s been scorching hot. In 15 September games, Springer has been hitting .333 with an OPS north of 1.050, powered by five homers and three doubles. It’s the kind of production that earned him recognition in MLB.com’s Hitter Power Rankings, where he’s listed as the fourth-best hitter in baseball this month.
Guerrero, meanwhile, has been just as vital. At only 26 years old, he remains the face of the franchise, and his bat has been blazing at exactly the right moment. This September, he’s slashing .391/.451/.531 with a .982 OPS, and he’s driving in runs while staying disciplined at the plate. He has more walks than strikeouts, and even chipped in a stolen base. On the season, he’s second on the team in both homers and RBIs, and his 4.7 WAR leads the roster. While this year may not quite match his MVP-level peak, he’s still proving himself as one of the game’s best hitters.
For Toronto, this season has already defied some expectations. Many assumed the defending champion Yankees would control the AL East, but the Blue Jays wrestled away the lead and haven’t let go. As the regular season nears its end, the atmosphere feels more and more like playoff baseball. And when the pressure rises, it’s the stars who need to shine.
Right now, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer are doing exactly that, keeping the Blue Jays ahead in the division race and giving fans plenty of hope that October baseball will be something special in Toronto.
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