Vladimir Guerrero Jr. achieved what started to look impossible. Can his Toronto Blue Jays follow suit?
The defending American League champions have underperformed all season, following the lead of their superstar and $500 million man, who, entering Sunday, Sept. 13, had not hit a home run at Rogers Centre this season – a 75-game power outage for a man who once hit 48 in a season.
But Guerrero got off the schneid with his first Canadian longball this season, the middle of back-to-back-to-back shots off Baltimore’s Trevor Rogers that had the home crowd chanting his name and his teammates giddy with joy.
And now, after spending almost the entire season on the wrong side of .500, the Blue Jays are just one game out of a playoff berth and up to No. 13 in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings.
Just like Vladdy, who now has eight home runs this season, can the Blue Jays prove it’s never too late?
They have a golden opportunity to make up ground this week, trailing the Cleveland Guardians by one game and the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox by 1½. Those two meet in a three-game series, while Toronto takes on the Detroit Tigers. Now 75-75, the Blue Jays haven’t been two games above .500 since April 1, when they were 4-2.
If they can reach those “heights” in the final 12 games, a very unlikely playoff spot may be in the offing.
Here’s a look at our updated MLB power rankings entering the week of Sept. 14:
1. Milwaukee Brewers (-)
- Will clinch NL Central this week and should break franchise record for wins (97) next week.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)
- Edwin Diaz looking a lot closer to getting shut down than returning from rehab assignment.
3. Tampa Bay Rays (+1)
- Victor Mesa (.845 OPS) gives them another power bat for the postseason.
4. Atlanta Braves (-2)
- Never a bad week when you essentially clinch the division. But a first-round bye might be too much to ask.
5. New York Yankees (-)
- Cam Schlittler closing in on Cy Young Award, but let’s pump the brakes a tad on MVP talk.
6. Chicago Cubs (-)
- Get a potential glimpse of playoff series with three games against Atlanta this week.
7. Boston Red Sox (+1)
- Wiped the floor with the AL Central this year, going 19-9.
8. Philadelphia Phillies (-1)
- Jesus Luzardo’s shoulder inflammation is, at least for now, a significant concern.
9. San Diego Padres (-)
- Jackson Merrill, 23, is a 25-25 man.
10. Arizona Diamondbacks (+1)
- Now three games behind the Padres; need to make sure that final-weekend series isn’t simply a lottery ticket.
11. Chicago White Sox (-1)
- Have held at least a share of first place in the AL Central since July 4. Will take a half-game lead into Cleveland.
12. Cleveland Guardians (-)
- For the second consecutive year, they can seize control of division on last homestand.
13. Toronto Blue Jays (+2)
- Dylan Cease in dead heat with Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski for major league strikeout lead.
14. Houston Astros (-1)
- They still might win the AL West, but sweep at hands of Tampa Bay shows playoff stay might not be long.
15. Miami Marlins (-1)
- Somehow won the season series against Dodgers.
16. St. Louis Cardinals (-)
- Alec Burleson’s majors-leading RBI total up to 109, most by a Cardinal since Paul Goldschmidt’s 115 in 2022.
17. Pittsburgh Pirates (+1)
- Back to .500. Can they pull off first winning season since 2018?
18. Texas Rangers (-1)
- Trailing Houston by one game, homestand vs. Red Sox, Blue Jays will be challenging.
19. Baltimore Orioles (+1)
- Starter Kyle Bradish shut down due to lower abdominal discomfort.
20. Minnesota Twins (+1)
- Emmanuel Rodriguez makes long-awaited debut, homers in first at-bat.
21. Cincinnati Reds (-2)
- Reds will be running it back with Nick Krall.
22. Detroit Tigers (+1)
- Jackson Jobe pitches into the seventh inning for first time.
23. Washington Nationals (-1)
- Jorbit Vivas with go-ahead and game-tying hits in consecutive games.
24. Seattle Mariners (-)
- Josh Naylor is, stunningly, 6-for-24 on ABS challenges, worst in the majors.
25. New York Mets (-)
- Christian Scott’s 3.76 ERA over 22 outings very good for initial year after Tommy John surgery.
26. Kansas City Royals (-)
- Carter Jensen’s 24th homer ties Bob Hamelin for Royals rookie record.
27. San Francisco Giants (-)
- The Rafael Devers shutdown is a real bummer, as he was closing in on 40-homer season.
28. Athletics (-)
- Shea Langeliers makes it back to Yolo County in impressive time after torn right meniscus repair in July.
29. Los Angeles Angels (+1)
- Blew three leads in ugly sweep at Washington.
30. Colorado Rockies (-1)
- On a 5-20 skid as 100 losses again looks like reality.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: Can Vlad Jr., Blue Jays wake up in time for playoffs?
Reporting by Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
