TORONTO — Two games out of a playoff spot with about two weeks to go.
The pressure is building on the reigning American League champion Toronto Blue Jays. Every game over the next fortnight will have a must-win feeling as the club aims to get back to the post-season.
“The urgency level has been high for a while, as has stress, as has everything,” manager John Schneider said Saturday before the Blue Jays played the Baltimore Orioles. “But that’s going be the same going forward.”
The Cleveland Guardians hold the third and final wild-card spot in the American League despite a pedestrian 75-73 record entering play Saturday.
The Blue Jays, who hold the tiebreaker if they finish tied with the Guardians, were next at 73-75. The Orioles and Texas Rangers were three games behind Cleveland at 72-76.
The AL is so weak right now that the third wild-card team will likely face an opponent with a similar record.
As the sixth overall seed, the third wild-card team will visit the lowest-seeded division winner in a best-of-three playoff series. The Chicago White Sox (Central) and Houston Astros (West) are clinging to first place in their respective divisions as they hover just over the .500 mark.
The Blue Jays, meanwhile, may get some much-needed reinforcements for the stretch drive.
Starter Trey Yesavage (knee) was scheduled to throw a bullpen session Sunday. If it goes well, he could return to the rotation next week.
Starter Shane Bieber (shoulder) hopes to throw off the mound during the current six-game homestand.
Slugger Anthony Santander (shoulder) is playing regularly at triple-A Buffalo and could provide some needed pop to the batting order if he gets back to the big leagues.
Toronto’s schedule is favourable with all 14 games against teams currently under the .500 mark.
The Detroit Tigers will visit Rogers Centre next week ahead of the Blue Jays’ six-game road trip to Texas and Baltimore. Toronto returns home for a season-ending interleague weekend series against the Cincinnati Reds.
A middling season still has the potential to be capped in style. It will take a heightened level of play to get there.
“Every game matters and there’s still important games that are going to played all the way down the stretch,” Schneider said.
Toronto started the day with a 26.5-per cent chance of reaching the playoffs, per FanGraphs.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2026.
Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press
