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The Toronto Blue Jays always had this in them, and it’s why they always had to be considered a serious factor in the American League East.

Michael Saunders always had this in him, too, and it’s why the Blue Jays wanted to get him. It’s not just because he’s Canadian, although the one major league team north of the border always does like the idea of having a Canadian star.

Saunders was a star Friday night, with three home runs and eight RBI in the Blue Jays’ 13-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles. The same day the Jays put Jose Bautista on the disabled list, they scored double-digit runs for the fifth time this week.

Yes, five times in a week, and you can’t blame it all on the Philadelphia Phillies. Only two of the double-digit outbursts came against the Phillies; the other three came against an Orioles team that has spent 58 days in first place in the American League East.

The top of the AL East standings are getting crowded, with the Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox both a game back of the Orioles. The way the Blue Jays are hitting, you have to like their chances of staying near the top.

Friday, they didn’t have Bautista and they didn’t have Troy Tulowitzki, who remains on the DL with a quadriceps injury. Tulowitzki wasn’t contributing much even when he was playing this season, but plenty of other Blue Jays have—especially over the last week.

Edwin Encarnacion had six home runs in six games before Friday, and while he didn’t leave the park in this game, he did go 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Josh Donaldson is 18-for-38 (.474) over his last 10 games, with four home runs and 16 RBI.

And then there’s Saunders, the guy who could always look so good in small stretches but could never stay healthy or consistent enough to be a real star.

Maybe that’s changing now.

Saunders had homered three times in the seven games before Friday, and his big night in Baltimore left him with 15 home runs for the season. It also left him with a .999 OPS for the season, second to David Ortiz (1.147) among all major league hitters.

As Gregor Chisholm wrote on MLB.com, no Canadian player ever had a night for the Blue Jays like the one Saunders had Friday. Not all that many American players had, either.

Carlos Delgado had a four-homer game for the Jays, but he only drove in six runs. The only Blue Jay with three homers and as many as eight RBI in a game had been Encarnacion, who drove in nine last August against the Detroit Tigers.

The only Canadians to hit three home runs in a major league game were Justin Morneau, Joey Votto and Larry Walker. Only Walker did it while driving in eight runs.

“Those are guys that I grew up watching and idolizing,” Saunders told reporters, including Chisholm. “It’s a proud Canadians kind of thing. Getting to know them over the years, they’re great people. I’m close friends with all of them, and it’s good company to join.”

Saunders’ arrival has come just in time for a Blue Jays team that wasn’t scoring all that many runs early in the season. The Blue Jays were tied for 13th in the majors in runs in April, which isn’t awful but isn’t anywhere near what they expect.

That’s all changed now. The Blue Jays are 20-8 since May 19, and they’ve done it by scoring 161 runs in the 28 games. If you don’t have a calculator handy, I’ll help you. That’s nearly six runs a game.

They’ve homered 52 times in those 28 games, or nearly twice a game.

Until Friday, the Orioles had actually outscored Toronto this month, 93-91, with no other team in baseball over 90. Add in Friday’s 13-3 pounding, and the Blue Jays have 104 runs in 16 games in June.

That’s 6.5 runs a game. And yes, it’s the most in baseball.

The run of double-digit games is impressive, too, especially when you realize the Blue Jays never scored in double digits five times in a week last year (when they had a major league-high 26 double-digit games). Two teams (the Atlanta Braves and Minnesota Twins) haven’t scored double-digits in any game this season.

The Blue Jays have done it five times in a week.

The Jays still have questions to answer. Marcus Stroman’s ERA (4.76) is a lot higher than you’d expect, and not at all fitting the ace he could be. The rotation could be an issue, and the bullpen could be a bigger issue.

But when Saunders is hitting like this, and Donaldson and Encarnacion are hitting like this, the Blue Jays can hit their way past most of the questions. They can hit their way right into the AL East race, which is basically just what they’ve done.

Danny Knobler covers Major League Baseball as a national columnist for Bleacher Report.

Follow Danny on Twitter and talk baseball.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista suffered a toe injury when he ran into the wall during Thursday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies. While X-rays were negative, he was placed on the disabled list on Friday. It’s unclear when he’ll return to the field.

Continue for updates.

Bautista Injury Details Revealed

Saturday, June 18

Bautista underwent an MRI on his left foot on Friday, and the Blue Jays are giving the results to a specialist for further examination, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet, who added Bautista is currently in a walking boot. 

On Saturday, Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com reported Bautista will travel to Charlotte on Monday to be evaluated by a specialist.

Bautista Sent for X-Rays

Thursday, June 16

Chisholm reported the outfielder was experiencing “left big toe soreness” and was “sent for precautionary X-rays.” 

Bausista indicated he hyperextended his toe hitting it against the wall and knew he would be headed to the disabled list as soon as it happened, per Zwelling.

Bautista was noticeably limping after hitting the wall:

Bautista Remains Essential Piece to Blue Jays Lineup

Bautista has become one of the league’s most feared power hitters since joining the Blue Jays in 2008, highlighted by six straight seasons with at least 25 home runs. It’s allowed him to win three Silver Slugger awards while serving as a crucial cog in Toronto’s lineup.

The 35-year-old has remained mostly healthy in recent years, appearing in at least 150 games in each of the past two seasons. The last time he missed an extended stretch came in late 2013, when he suffered a hip injury. He also dealt with a minor thigh issue earlier this month.

If Bautista misses action, Ezequiel Carrera figures to pick up most of the extra playing time in the outfield. While he won’t be able to fill the power void, he gets on base at a solid clip and gives the Jays a little more speed on the basepaths.

While the Toronto offense is probably going to see a dip in production during Bautista’s absence, it has enough depth to prevent a major drop-off. The team will hope he’s able to return to his usually durable ways once he’s back to full strength.

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Player: Cavan Biggio

Position: 2B

DOB: April 11, 1995 (21 years old)

Height/Weight: 6’2″, 185 lbs

Bats/Throws: L/R

School: Notre Dame

Previously Drafted: 2013 (29th Round, PHI)

Background

Cavan Biggio was a top MLB prospect coming out of high school, and his status went beyond his famous bloodlines.

The son of Hall of Famer Craig Biggio was among the top high school infielders in his class and likely would have gone in the first few rounds in 2013 if he were viewed as signable.

Baseball America (No. 66) and MLB.com (No. 57) both ranked him among the top 100 prospects in the 2013 draft, but a strong commitment to Notre Dame caused him to slip to the 29th round, and he took his talents to South Bend.

After hitting .246/.329/.353 with 14 extra-base hits in 226 plate appearances as a true freshman, he turned in a breakout sophomore season.

Along with raising his OPS from .682 to .868, he also led the Fighting Irish in home runs (9), walks (50), slugging percentage (.406) and stolen bases (14).

On top of those solid offensive numbers, he also earned Rawlings Gold Glove honors for his defensive work at second base.

He continued his strong play into the summer, where he earned Cape Cod League All-Star honors, and he’s been one of the top hitters in the ACC so far this season.

Slotted in the leadoff spot, he’s currently batting .311/.473/.454 with 18 extra-base hits and 14 stolen bases.

Plate discipline and contact ability continues to be Biggio’s calling card, as he’s recorded significantly more walks (54) than strikeouts (32), and his .473 on-base percentage ranks in the top 50 nationally.

Pick Analysis

He’ll never put up eye-popping power or speed numbers, but Biggio’s advanced approach at the plate and plus defense give him the potential to be an everyday second baseman.

Here’s a scouting report on Biggio from Perfect Game:

Biggio has an unorthodox setup at the plate with a deep crouch and exaggerated high hand set, but his ability to track pitches cannot be overstated.

At times, he may get himself into tough counts by being a bit too selective, but by all accounts he has been able to toe the line between patient and passive much better this season than in the past.

He’s noticeably bigger than his father, and as a result owns a bit more raw power and strength, but he doesn’t project to be a middle-of-the-order type as his swing and approach is geared more towards solid line drives and setting the table for others. He’s a solid defender at second, who also has the athleticism to potentially play third base at the next level.

Biggio’s all-around polish means that, if nothing else, he should move quickly through the minors once he begins his pro career.

MLB Player Comparison: Todd Walker

The comparisons to his dad will be unavoidable, but Cavan is a different player. He hits from the left side of the plate, and his frame is a bit lankier than that of his 5’11” father, who began his career as a catcher.

Looking at the current MLB landscape, there’s really no perfect comparison among active players.

He has a similar offensive profile to Jason Kipnis, but he’ll never be a 20-steal threat. Perhaps the best comparison is Matt Carpenter during his time as a second baseman and prior to his power surge last season.

Instead, we’ll go back a few years to Todd Walker.

Though he was never an All-Star, Walker put together a solid 12-year MLB career during which he hit .289/.348/.435 and piled up 1,316 hits while averaging 36 doubles, 13 home runs and 69 RBI per 162 games.

Plate discipline was also the driving force behind his offensive value, as he posted an on-base percentage over .350 seven different times and had a solid 8.3 percent walk rate for his career.

If Biggio can put together that kind of career, he’ll be well worth the selection at this point.

Projection: Starting second baseman, potential No. 2 hitter

Major League ETA: 2020

Chances of Signing: 90 percent

Biggio has boosted his stock considerably since last spring, and in a relatively thin crop of college middle infielders he won’t have much to gain from returning to campus for his senior season.

College statistics courtesy of The Baseball Cube, unless otherwise noted, and accurate through Wednesday, June 8.

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The Toronto Blue Jays selected second baseman Bo Bichette, the son of four-time All-Star outfielder Dante Bichette, in the second round of Thursday night’s MLB draft at No. 66 overall. 

The 18-year-old is known for packing serious power and finished his senior year at Lakewood High School with a .569 batting average and 13 home runs, according to the Tampa Bay Times‘ Rodney Page. 

Like his father, who smashed 274 home runs over the course of a 14-year MLB career, Bichette uses tremendous power to stand out. However, he will need to refine his swing as his career continues if he wants to produce consistently at the plate.

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Player: Bo Bichette

Position: 2B/SS

DOB: March 5, 1998 (18 years old)

Height/Weight: 6’1″, 200 lbs

Bats/Throws: R/R

School: Lakewood High School (FL)

College Commitment: Arizona State

Background

The son of 14-year MLB veteran Dante Bichette and brother of 2011 first-round pick Dante Bichette Jr., infielder Bo Bichette has some of the best raw power of any high school bat in the 2016 class.

He’s been on the prospect radar since his sophomore season at Lakewood High School in Florida and has only solidified his stock with a huge senior season.

In 25 games, Bichette hit .569/.698/1.400 with seven doubles, 13 home runs, 40 RBI and 46 runs scored in 96 plate appearances.

The young slugger credits the summer of 2013, when his father was the Colorado Rockies‘ hitting coach, as the turning point in his career, as he was able to learn from some quality MLB hitters as well as his dad.

“I really feel that was the summer where I went from good to really good, learning from [Troy] Tulowitzki and the best players they had,” Bichette told Maggie Hendricks of USA Today.

Making consistent contact will be the biggest battle for Bichette once he begins his career at the next level. He has a bit of a hitch in his swing, but if he can adjust to the pro game, he’ll have a chance to make an impact.

If nothing else, his bat-flip game is MLB-ready.

Pick Analysis

Baseball America had the following to say about Bichette while ranking him as the No. 46 prospect in its pre-draft rankings:

The right-handed hitter has exceptionally fast hands, allowing him to whip the bat through the zone and drive the ball. His swing includes a deep load and an exaggerated back elbow swoop, but his bat works through the zone well and he controlled at-bats against elite competition on the showcase circuit.

Bichette has a steady glove and a strong arm. He plays shortstop now and could go out as one, but will eventually move to second base or, more likely owing to his 6-foot, 200-pound frame, third base.

Hitting coaches may try to simplify his swing once he starts his pro career, but his raw power is something you can’t teach, and his in-game power is already at a level that is rare for a high school middle-infield prospect.

He’ll never be a Gold Glove winner, regardless of where he eventually lands defensively, but his bat will carry him to the big leagues.

MLB Player Comparison: Jedd Gyorko

Second basemen with plus power from the right side of the plate are few and far between, but Jedd Gyorko is one player who looks like a reasonable comp for Bichette.

Gyorko burst onto the scene with 26 doubles and 23 home runs as a rookie in 2013, but he’s struggled at times to make enough contact to tap into that pop, which is the biggest concern surrounding Bichette.

The 27-year-old Gyorko also has a similar build to Bichette at 5’11” and 215 pounds, and both players possess below-average speed and athleticism.

Despite his athletic limitations, Gyorko is a capable defender at multiple defensive positions, and Bichette could find himself in a similar role once he reaches the majors, since he doesn’t profile as a shortstop long-term.

Projection: Everyday second baseman or left fielder with 20-homer power

Major League ETA: 2021

Chances of Signing: 90 percent

Bichette has as much power potential as any high school bat in this year’s class, and that should land a bonus high enough to lure him away from his commitment to Arizona State.

All high school stats courtesy of MaxPreps, unless otherwise noted.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista was pulled from Thursday night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles with tightness in his right thigh.

Continue for updates. 

Gibbons Comments on Bautista’s Injury

Friday, June 10 

“We don’t think it’s a big deal. … It might require a day or two off,” said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons on MLB Network Radio. 

Bautista Listed as Day-to-Day

Thursday, June 9 

TSN’s Scott MacArthur passed along the update. 

Bautista was removed from Thursday’s game in the bottom of the sixth inning after he recorded a walk. In his first two at-bats, he notched a pair of hits and an RBI. 

Bautista Off to Rough Start in 2016

The 35-year-old slugger has rarely been consistent at the plate this season but has been available on a regular basis. Bautista has appeared in all but one game—and missed that contest due to a suspension that stemmed from his altercation with Rougned Odor. 

However, it’s hardly been a banner year for the six-time All-Star. Bautista entered Thursday batting just .227 and has recorded a .360 on-base percentage while tallying 12 home runs and 39 RBI. That said, he does lead all American League players with 45 walks. 

If Bautista is forced to miss time, Ezequiel Carrera projects as his primary replacement in right field. Over the course of 69 plate appearances to date, Carrera is batting .344 with a .391 on-base percentage, one home run and three RBI.

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Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson did not play on Saturday against the Boston Red Sox because of a thumb injury, per Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com.

However, he will return to the Blue Jays’ lineup on Sunday, according to Sportsnet.ca’s Ben Nicholson-Smith.

Donaldson was one of the best players in baseball in 2015. His 8.7 WAR was third-highest among qualified position players, and he took home the American League MVP Award for his efforts. The 30-year-old was a big reason the Blue Jays reached the American League Championship Series last year.

Since his first full season with the Oakland Athletics in 2013, Donaldson has been one of the most consistent sluggers in baseball. Here’s where his offensive numbers rank with the rest of the league between 2013 and 2015:

Donaldson didn’t wait to get going in 2016, either, hitting a three-run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays in the Blue Jays’ fourth game of the year:

Toronto dodged a bullet when the two-time All-Star hurt his leg in the same game. He only suffered a calf strain and didn’t miss any games. Thankfully for Toronto, this most recent injury proved to be minor as well.

Stats are courtesy of FanGraphs.

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The Toronto Blue Jays announced Tuesday they acquired right-handed reliever Jason Grilli in a trade with the Atlanta Braves, who received right-handed pitching prospect Sean Ratcliffe in return. 

Toronto also received cash considerations in the deal that shipped its 18th-round pick in 2013 to Atlanta.

The 39-year-old Grilli appeared in 21 games for the Braves this season in his second year with the organization, and Toronto will be his ninth team in his 14-year career. The veteran recorded a career-high 33 saves in 2013 in an All-Star campaign. 

Grilli has been a proficient reliever since his second season with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2012, when his strikeout-to-walk ratio jumped from 2.47 in 2011 to 4.09, per FanGraphs. The following season, he struck out 74 batters while walking only 13.

Grilli has struggled so far this year, striking out 23 batters and walking 13 while playing on a 15-win ballclub in Atlanta. Now he’ll get the chance to play for the reigning American League East champions.

The Blue Jays are five games back of the Boston Red Sox in the division coming into Tuesday, and Grilli should provide some immediate bullpen help. Toronto has a bullpen ERA of 3.89, which is 16th-best in the major leagues.

Toronto could use Grilli as a setup man for Roberto Osuna, who has 11 saves and an ERA of only 1.17 up to this point. Bob Mackowycz of TSN Radio doesn’t think the Blue Jays aren’t getting the Grilli of years past, however:

There’s enough time for the Blue Jays to make a charge at the Red Sox. But as powerful and talented as their offense is, they need pitching help. Grilli may be getting older, but he’ll provide plenty of experience for a young pitching staff.

Stats from Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.   

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In a wide-ranging interview with Sports Illustrated‘s Tom Verducci, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista discussed not only his altercation with Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor but also his future north of the border. 

Bautista earned a one-game suspension for his role in the brawl with Odor. He argued Odor intended to stir the pot when the Rangers and Blue Jays closed out their three-game series May 15, per SI Wire: “Was [Odor] out to play baseball that day? Maybe partly. Part of me also thinks that he was looking for a fight.”

The six-time All-Star also contended Odor attempted to hit him in the face as he slid into second base.  Whether intentional or not, Odor’s throw to first came dangerously close to Bautista face. A good look at the throw begins at the 5:47 mark of the video below:

Bautista also told Verducci he believes the Rangers infielder has used a similar tactic before. He didn’t mention a specific incident, but Odor narrowly missed Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin to complete a double play in Game 2 of the 2015 ALDS:

Although the two teams aren’t set to meet again this year, the animosity between the Blue Jays and Rangers will likely carry over to whenever they step back on the field together again.

Bautista may not be there to see it, though. The 35-year-old is set to be a free agent at the end of the 2016 season. He told Verducci he enjoys being in Toronto and that “[he’d] be stupid to leave,” but he added he won’t let emotions come into play as he makes a decision about his future, per SI Wire:

I will explore every single option, whether it happens or not with the new regime, to continue to try to stay here. That being said, I think teams utilize [the hometown discount] a lot against players, [seeking] a discount or bargain price, and I think that’s extremely unfair, especially to have your biggest contributors on the field and try to take advantage of the fact that they like it there and negotiate a tougher deal.

As much as Bautista has done for the organization, the Blue Jays will have a tough decision regarding his next contract. He’s no longer in his prime playing years, and the team has to consider the fact Edwin Encarnacion will hit free agency as well at the end of the year. In addition, Josh Donaldson is eligible for arbitration in 2018 and will be in line for a massive extension down the road.

The Blue Jays let David Price walk last offseason, and they could do the same with Bautista should his asking price be too much for their tastes.

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Toronto Blue Jays star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was placed on the disabled list due to a quadriceps strain on Saturday, as the team announced. It’s unclear when he will return.

Continue for updates.

Tulowitzki Suffers Injury on HBP

Saturday, May 28

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said Tulowitzki tweaked his quad after falling down on a hit-by-pitch on Friday, per Scott MacArthur of TSN.

Tulowitzki said it’s a low-grade strain and that he expects to be back in 15 days, per Brendan Kennedy of the Toronto Star.

Tulowitzki, 31, is one of the big bats in Toronto’s scary lineups. Between the Colorado Rockies and Blue Jays last year, he hit .280 with 17 home runs and 70 RBI in 128 games. He struggled in Toronto, however, hitting just .239 with five home runs and 17 RBI in 41 games.

He offered a mixed bag in the postseason, batting .205 with two home runs and 11 RBI in 11 contests.

That left two major concerns for Tulowitzki coming into the 2016 campaign: Could he stay healthy, and would he dispel the notion that he was far less effective away from Coors Field? 

He’s hitting .204 with eight home runs and 23 RBI in 46 games this season.

Health has always been a major issue for the star shortstop, who hasn’t played in 140 or more games since 2011. When he stays on the field, he’s one of the game’s top options at the position and one of the most dangerous players at the plate in baseball. Landing him last year was supposed to give the Blue Jays something of a modern Murderer’s Row, alongside Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. 

It remains to be seen if that will materialize, however. If Tulo’s latest injury setback is serious, it will be a blow to Toronto’s lineup, though the team obviously has the sluggers to remain dangerous. 

With Tulowitzki sidelined, Darwin Barney will take over as the team’s starting shortstop unless the Blue Jays trade for another option at the position.

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.  

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