The Toronto Blue Jays fell to the Cleveland Guardians in extra innings Wednesday, spoiling Max Scherzer’s return to the mound. The Blue Jays sit five games over .500. Scherzer is back, the rotation is full and Toronto’s offence is largely humming.

As the Jays try to solidify their spot in the playoff mix, the team draws closer to the 2025 MLB Draft and trade deadline. So, let’s get to your midseason mailbag questions, some of which have been edited for length and clarity.

What does our run differential tell us? The Blue Jays are 42-37 with a -7 differential. – Bobby B.

The Jays’ run differential does make it difficult to judge what this team really is. At the surface, it tells us Toronto has outplayed its expected record, which sits at 39-40. Teams can make the postseason with negative run differentials. The Marlins and Diamondbacks did so in 2023. But those real and expected records often align as the season chugs along.

You can look at Toronto’s -7 run differential and, fairly, say the Jays are due for regression. But the Blue Jays have a path to countering that dip. Most of this season, the Jays have been without Daulton Varsho and Max Scherzer. Anthony Santander is injured and didn’t add much when healthy, and Yimi García remains out. Injuries happen to every team, but that onslaught could’ve sunk Toronto. It hasn’t, and the injured group’s return could help fend off any regression the Jays are seemingly due for.

At the end of the year, only the real wins matter.

When everyone returns from the IL, what does the ideal batting order look like? – Nate B.

With Santander yet to swing a bat and Varsho suffering a minor setback this week, there’s plenty of time for new Blue Jays injuries to create other holes. But if Toronto’s roster remains healthy by the time those slugging outfielders return, the Jays should have the best kind of lineup crunch — too many good hitters.

More bases-loaded Springer magic ✨

Make him an All-Star: https://t.co/s7rxDvexK1 pic.twitter.com/NPJn5lgOJz

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 26, 2025

Against righties, manager John Schneider could roll out something like this:

1. SS Bo Bichette
2. 3B Addison Barger
3. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
4. CF Daulton Varsho
5. C Alejandro Kirk
6. DH Anthony Santander
7. RF George Springer
8. LF Nathan Lukes
9. 2B Andrés Gimenez

Ernie Clement should still see time against righties and 3B starts against lefties. Myles Straw and Davis Schneider can take left field against southpaws, too.

The big question is where you put Varsho and Santander? Varsho fits the cleanup spot for a few reasons. His early power surge appeared real, with swing changes bringing eight homers in 24 games. Plus, there’s value to adding speed in front of Kirk, as Varsho can steal bags and run on contact to avoid double plays. This lineup construction also sets up Guerrero for success, drawing left-handed relievers into games to face Barger and Varsho, with the first baseman between. Guerrero has a .338 average and .980 OPS against southpaws this year.

Santander could also hit cleanup for the Jays, but he’ll have to earn his way back up the lineup. Whether it was the hip and shoulder ailments or lost timing at the plate, Santander struggled in his first 50 games. Until the $92.5 million signing proves he’s healthy and slugging, the switch hitter can break up righties like Kirk and Springer in the middle of the order.

If the Blue Jays decide to be buyers this year, which prospects do you think are on the table to be traded? – Matthew T.

Strong performances across the Blue Jays’ system should put the team in a good spot for trade deadline buys. The Jays love to move rising prospects — those deals often look pretty shrewd in time. They just did it with High-A reliever Caleb Martin, flipped to the Miami Marlins for a depth pitcher. Guys like Gage Stanifer, Johnny King and Victor Arias certainly fit that rising mold.

I’d be surprised if Toronto didn’t also deal from their glut of upper-minors outfield depth. With 10 outfielders on the 40-man roster and more to add this offseason, something has to give. The group includes Jonatan Clase, Will Robertson, Joey Loperfido, RJ Schreck and Yohendrick Pinango.

This year, the Jays have added a second Dominican Summer League team. What was the reason behind us only having one and the decision to add another? – Elliott K.

A bunch of organizations added a second Dominican Summer League squad in the last three or four years, and the Jays are the latest. The main reason to add a second team is the DSL’s 35-player roster limit, meaning a second squad adds double the game opportunity for young prospects. With enough staff in the Dominican to run a second team, the Jays decided to add that other roster.

It also allows Toronto to patiently develop players in the DSL before promoting them to the Florida Complex League. With two teams, there’s less pressure to promote DSL prospects to open playing time for a new crop of young international players every year.

What’s the biggest surprise of the season thus far? – Alexander H.

We’ve seen lots of surprises on the Blue Jays this year — George Springer, Ernie Clement, Addison Barger, Tyler Heineman and Braydon Fisher. Those good stories are a big reason Toronto’s over .500 right now. But Eric Lauer stealing a rotation spot is the biggest shock.

Last time he was in the big leagues, Lauer posted a 6.56 ERA. In seven starts in Korea last year, he had a 4.93 mark. That’s not the type of track record that screams MLB comeback. Yet, through 11 appearances and five starts, the soft-tossing lefty has saved Toronto’s pitching staff with a 2.21 ERA. All the expected metrics suggest Lauer’s strong production this year is largely sustainable, too.

His 92 mph fastball isn’t daunting, but opposing batters hit just .133 against it. Lauer’s success is built on deception and command, with 45 percent of his pitches falling within a ball width of the black. That command helped Lauer become a mid-rotation staple for the Brewers in 2021 and 2022. Now, it’s earned him a real run in Toronto’s rotation.

If there were a hitter who only hit home runs, struck out or very occasionally walked, what would his batting average have to be to stay in the lineup? – Martin D.

So, Joey Gallo? He needed to hit .199 to be an everyday MLB player, so I’ll go with that.

What position is top priority at the deadline, and who are the targets at that position? – Jay J.

Things can change in the next few weeks, but the biggest needs right now are starting pitching, relief pitching (every team needs bullpen help at the deadline) and a bat that can preferably hit lefties.

The Jays can get particularly creative with a hitting addition. There aren’t any glaring positional needs, so if the Blue Jays acquire a bat, it should be an upside masher — left field, third base, designated hitter — the position doesn’t really matter.

I’ve got a piece coming next week looking at some deadline targets on The Athletic’s big board, but I’ll throw out a name for each need now: Starting pitcher Freddy Peralta, reliever Reid Detmers and slugger Eugenio Suárez.

(Photo of Bo Bichette: Cole Burston / Getty Images)