Dan Plesac is confidently backing the Toronto Blue Jays as contenders in the AL East primarily due to their elite starting pitching rotation, highlighted by breakout candidate Bowden Francis, Kevin Gausman, and a bounce-back from Jose Berrios. He also anticipates Bo Bichette rebounding from a down year, and Vlad Jr. possibly inking a long-term extension, bringing stability and motivation. Plesac asserts that if the Jays' arms hold steady and key bats perform up to expectations, they are set to be a serious playoff threat.