The Toronto Blue Jays are inching closer to catching up with the Cleveland Guardians in the race for the American League’s final wild-card spot. To maintain their position, the Blue Jays must continue their strong performance and hope that the Guardians stumble in at least one of their Friday double-header games.
Both Toronto and Cleveland currently have 70 wins as they head into Friday’s matchups. The Guardians have the opportunity to increase their win total as they face the Detroit Tigers twice today.
If Cleveland manages to win both games against the Tigers, they will end the day with a record of 72-70. On the other hand, the best Toronto can achieve is a victory against the Kansas City Royals, bringing them to 71-71 and back to the .500 mark for the first time since June.
The competition for the third AL wild-card spot is intense, with the Blue Jays, Guardians, and several other teams vying for the coveted position.
In a recent three-game series between Cleveland and Toronto, the Blue Jays emerged victorious by winning two out of three games, including a 6-3 triumph on Thursday afternoon.
Looking ahead, the Blue Jays will kick off a three-game series against the Kansas City team on Friday. With 21 games remaining in the regular season, Toronto must continue to accumulate wins to keep their playoff aspirations alive.
In the American League, six teams will advance to the postseason, including three division winners and the next three teams with the best records that secure wild-card berths. The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox currently hold two of these wild-card spots, trailing behind the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
The Texas Rangers stayed in the hunt by securing a victory on Thursday, matching the Blue Jays’ 70-71 record.
Conversely, the Baltimore Orioles suffered a defeat against Boston, leaving them with a 69-72 record for the season.