THE BRONX, N.Y. -- The Toronto Blue Jays rotation had the best ERA in the American League in 2016 by almost half a run, and with that entire group intact and with Aaron Sanchez working free of innings restrictions this season, they could run off a week’s worth of wins and get back to .500.
But with nine losses in 11 games, the standings hole that Toronto has created for itself is enormous, compounded by the loss of MVP candidate Josh Donaldson to recurring calf problems. Rival evaluators already are beginning to size up the Jays as a possible candidate for an extensive midseason sell-off.