The Toronto Blue Jays are closing in on the Cleveland Guardians in the race for the remaining wild-card spot in the American League. However, they face a challenge in maintaining their position and will be hoping for the Guardians to lose at least once in their double-header on Friday.
Both Toronto and Cleveland have an equal number of wins as they head into Friday’s games. The Guardians will have the opportunity to increase their wins as they play two games against the Detroit Tigers.
If the Guardians manage to win both games against the Tigers, they would end the day with a record of 72-70. Toronto, on the other hand, can only secure a win against the Kansas City Royals on Friday to improve to 71-71, bringing them 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.
Toronto is set to begin a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals on Friday. With 21 games remaining in the regular season, the Blue Jays need to continue securing wins to keep their playoff aspirations alive.
In the American League, six teams will advance to the postseason, including three division winners and the three teams with the next-best records that earn wild-card berths. Currently, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox hold two of those wild-card spots, trailing the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
The Texas Rangers secured a win on Thursday, matching the Blue Jays’ record at 70-71. Conversely, the Baltimore Orioles suffered a defeat against Boston, leaving them with a 69-72 season record.
