The Toronto Blue Jays won the AL East title last year for the first time since 1993, setting up one of the most memorable postseason runs we have ever seen. However, the Blue Jays aren't satified on simply resting on last year's accomplishments - they want to reassert their dominance at the top of the division again in 2016. Here are three reasons why the Blue Jays will win the AL East this season:
3) The Toronto Renaissance
You make think we're overselling this but we're not. The revitalization of the Toronto fan base, both with the Raptors and the Blue Jays, is absolutely jaw-dropping to behold over here in the States. There's no stadium more intimidating than the Rogers Centre when a metric ton of fans are shaking the old building to its core. Watch the Blue Jays players' faces. They always give a little extra, push a little harder and flip bats a little farther for the Toronto crowd.
2) Power hitting
You may question Toronto's pitching staff, but there is absolutely no doubting their lineup. Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista, and Edwin Encarnacion combined to hit an astonishing 120 homers last season, and both Troy Tulowitzki and Russell Martin hit over 20 dingers as well. Simply put, this is a group capable of a nuclear explosing at any point - and giving them the ability to just simply outscore teams when a pitcher has an off outing.
1) Josh Donaldson
The reigning AL MVP won't be taking any steps back this season. There's no one in baseball that can replicate his unique mixture of brashness, leadership, hot-corner defense and otherworldly at-the-plate skills. Bautista, Tulowitzki and Encarnacion are all stars as well, but Josh Donaldson is the glue that keeps Toronto's new-age Murderer's Row together.