The Toronto Blue Jays are closing in on the Cleveland Guardians in the battle for the remaining wild-card spot in the American League. To maintain their position, the Blue Jays must secure a win against the Kansas City Royals on Friday and hope that the Guardians lose at least one of their games in a double-header against the Detroit Tigers.
Both Toronto and Cleveland currently have the same number of wins, with the Guardians at 70-70 and the Blue Jays at 70-71. If the Guardians win both games against the Tigers, they would advance to 72-70, while the Blue Jays can reach 71-71 by winning against the Royals.
The competition for the third AL wild-card spot involves several teams, including the Blue Jays and the Guardians. Earlier in the week, the Blue Jays emerged victorious in a three-game series against the Guardians, winning two out of three games, including a 6-3 victory on Thursday.
Looking ahead, the Blue Jays are set to begin a series with the Kansas City team on Friday. With 21 games left in the regular season, Toronto needs to continue accumulating wins to boost their chances of making it to the playoffs. In the American League, six teams will secure postseason berths, including three division winners and the three teams with the next-best records that earn wild-card spots.
Outside the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox currently hold wild-card spots with strong records. The Texas Rangers also won on Thursday, matching the Blue Jays’ record at 70-71. On the other hand, the Baltimore Orioles suffered a defeat against Boston, leaving them at 69-72 for the season.
