Loser: Toronto Blue Jays
Even with the loss of Edwin Encarnacion, the Blue Jays entered 2017 with reasonable expectations. This team has made the ALCS in two straight years, after all. But April was not kind to Toronto.
Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista and Troy Tulowitzki closed the month out with a combined four home runs. Donaldson and Tulowitzki both start May on the disabled list.
The starting rotation has been okay, but even that comes with an asterisk. J.A. Happ is on the disabled list. Aaron Sanchez spent most of April on the DL, returned for one start, and is heading back.
RHP Aaron Sanchez (split nail) has been placed on the 10-day DL. RHP Danny Barnes has been recalled from the @BuffaloBisons.
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 1, 2017
If there’s any silver lining, it’s that the Blue Jays made the ALCS in 2015 and 2016 despite having a losing April both years. But in those years, Toronto was a combined 6.5 games out of first place entering May. In 2017, the Blue Jays are eight back.
There’s not a lot for Toronto to be optimistic about following that April.