The Toronto Blue Jays are still alive in the playoff chase, and the margin is getting thin. Entering Wednesday’s series finale against the Athletics, Toronto was one game behind the Cleveland Guardians and held the tiebreaker over them, giving the Blue Jays a real path to the postseason despite the uneven season they’ve put together.
That race is exactly why every spot in the lineup matters now, and Ernie Clement’s recent production is hard to ignore. The utility infielder has long brought value with his defense and speed, but those traits haven’t shown up the same way in 2026. Baseball Savant lists Clement with a fielding run value of minus-4, with much of that damage tied to a weak arm.
The stolen-base impact has faded, too. Since the All-Star break, Clement has swiped just three bags.
The bigger concern is what he’s done at the plate after the break. Over the second half, the 30-year-old has hit .227 with a .360 on-base percentage and a .542 OPS, along with one home run and 14 RBIs. He has only eight extra-base hits in that span.
Still, Toronto penciled him in at second base and seventh in the order for Wednesday’s finale in Sacramento. The club’s own message before the game was simple: “Let's wrap this road trip with a W! #BlueJays50 pic.twitter.com/cLE2Xvxxbe”
With the postseason approaching, the Blue Jays may need to rethink Clement’s everyday role and start mixing in other options at second. Josh Smith and Charles McAdoo are both available to manager John Schneider if he wants to use a platoon edge in certain matchups.
Clement’s postseason heroics for Toronto in 2025 are part of the story, but they can’t be the only thing that keeps him locked into the lineup. At this point, the numbers say Schneider has to weigh every decision carefully, because the playoff race leaves no room to ignore what Clement has done - or hasn’t done - in the second half.
In Other News...
Blue Jays Suddenly Have A Left Field Problem Fans Can't Ignore
Jess Snchez has given the Blue Jays some needed pop, but his glove in left field has become impossible to overlook. Among Toronto outfielders who have logged at least 100 innings, he sits at the bottom in fielding percentage, a reminder that the clubs outfield picture is still very much a work in progress even as the season moves forward.
Anthony Santander is starting a rehab assignment after shoulder surgery, and his return could quickly change the conversation. Toronto views him as a possible defensive upgrade in left, which puts the roster in a holding pattern as the club weighs what fits best once he is ready, with Myles Straw and others also part of the mix depending on how the next stretch unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Could Face One Massive Decision To Land A Future Ace
Tarik Skubal is already the kind of name that can reshape an offseason before it arrives, and CBS Sports Mike Axisa has put the Blue Jays on a short list of clubs that could be in the mix when the ace reaches free agency after the 2026 season. Toronto has shown a willingness to spend when it believes the fit is right, and Skubal would instantly become the sort of frontline starter this organization rarely gets a chance to chase.
The obvious complication is who else might be at the table, with the Dodgers also mentioned as a possible destination in what could become a serious bidding war. For the Blue Jays, the appeal is easy to see: a rotation headlined by Skubal and Dylan Cease would give them a pair of high-end arms to build around, but that idea remains firmly in the projection stage for now. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Deadline Looks Smarter Than Fans Think And More Frustrating Too
The Blue Jays trade deadline was always going to be judged through more than one lens, and that is exactly why the discussion around it has lingered. Toronto chose a path that leaned into both present value and future flexibility, and the move that sent Kevin Gausman out for Brett Bateman and Ty Southisene has been part of the reason the front offices approach looks sharper in hindsight than it did in the moment.
At the same time, there is still a familiar edge of frustration for fans who wanted a bigger swing. The clubs decision-making was built around keeping the roster competitive while also trying to strengthen what comes next, but the debate has not gone away because the deadline also left room for what might have been, including a possible route to Jo Adell if the Blue Jays had pushed harder in the right spot. [Read more 🡒]