5 biggest surprise teams of the 2015 MLB season

5. Toronto Blue Jays

Given the high-profile acquisitions made by the Toronto Blue Jays at the MLB trade deadline, it is not surprising that they have emerged as essentially a lock to make the playoffs. What is surprising, though, is the nature in which they got there, and how quickly they have turned things around.

On July 28th, the Blue Jays sat at 50-51. They were eight games back of the New York Yankees for first place in the American League East, and three teams stood between them and the final Wild Card spot.

Fast-forward six weeks later, and Toronto is the hottest team in baseball. They are 28-8 since that date, and have overtaken the Yankees for the division lead.

There has not been a better team in MLB during this stretch, and it is no coincidence that this hot streak coincided with the Blue Jays establishing themselves as one of the winners of the trade deadline.

The acquisitions of five-time All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and former Cy Young Award winner David Price were the marquee deals that put Toronto on the map as a potential contender, but they were far from the only moves that generated this turnaround. The team traded for outfielder Ben Revere, who has been a reliable contact hitter in a lineup that struggles to hit for average, as well as reliever Mark Lowe, who provides a veteran presence in a young bullpen.

Just over a month ago, the Blue Jays were a middle-of-the-road team whose postseason outlook appeared extremely bleak. Now, they are a playoff team that is capable of a deep run in October.

Next: 4. Minnesota Twins