The Toronto Blue Jays are inching closer to catching up with the Cleveland Guardians in the race for the final American League wild-card position. To maintain their momentum, the Blue Jays will need to secure a win against the Kansas City Royals while hoping the Guardians stumble in at least one of their games in a double-header on Friday.
Both Toronto and Cleveland have won the same number of games so far, with records of 70-71 and 70-70, respectively. Cleveland will face the Detroit Tigers twice on Friday, giving them an opportunity to potentially move to 72-70 by the end of the day. On the other hand, the Blue Jays can only aim to reach 71-71 if they triumph over the Kansas City Royals, bringing them back to a .500 winning percentage for the first time since June.
Competing for the third AL wild-card spot, the Blue Jays and the Guardians are among several teams vying for a playoff berth. In a recent three-game series between the two teams, the Blue Jays emerged victorious, winning two out of three games, including a 6-3 triumph on Thursday.
With 21 games remaining in the regular season, Toronto must continue to accumulate wins to stay in contention for a playoff spot. In the postseason, six American League teams will advance, comprising three division winners and the next three teams with the best records securing wild-card berths. Currently, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox hold wild-card positions behind the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays, while the Texas Rangers remain in the hunt after a recent victory, matching the Blue Jays’ record at 70-71.
In contrast, the Baltimore Orioles suffered a defeat against Boston on Thursday, dropping to a 69-72 season record. The playoff race in the American League is intensifying as teams strive to secure their spots in the postseason.