Blue Jays early struggles explained
Injuries, slow starts, rotation fails sabotage Jays soft April schedule
The Toronto Blue Jays are off to a frustrating start after what was supposed to be the easiest stretch of their 2026 schedule. On Exit Philosophy, Griff and Mal break down what’s gone wrong early in the season — from pitching injuries and inconsistent offense to defensive struggles and costly baserunning mistakes. Is a struggling Mad Max simply hanging on until the rotation cavalry arrives? What was once a luxury of starting pitching depth is now a head-scratching concern.
The boys also dive into a growing Major League Baseball trend: teams locking up under-25 stars to long-term contracts, including top Konnor Griffin with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Is this part of a bigger strategy ahead of the next CBA negotiations? And how much is the rise of NCAA NIL money impacting MLB decision-making?
Plus — biggest Blue Jays surprises, biggest disappointments, and key storylines every fan needs to know.