TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays are gaining momentum as they secure back-to-back series wins against the Colorado Rockies and Oakland Athletics, setting the stage for a September push in the American League playoff race.
The team now faces the Kansas City Royals in a critical 10-game homestand, followed by series against the Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox.
Here are five key factors to watch as the Blue Jays aim for a playoff spot:
1. REINFORCEMENTS COMING
Star shortstop Bo Bichette (quad) and third baseman Matt Chapman (finger) are expected to return soon from the injured list, providing a boost to the team.
In their absence, Triple-A call-ups Davis Schneider, Ernie Clement, and Spencer Horwitz have delivered impressive performances both in the infield and at the plate.
Story continues below advertisement
Schneider, in particular, has been on a hot streak offensively, earning a spot in the heart of the batting order under manager John Schneider.
2. SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE
After the homestand, the Blue Jays will face East Division teams for the remaining two weeks of the schedule.
A six-game road trip will begin on September 19 in New York, followed by a series against Tampa Bay.
The Yankees and Rays will then visit Rogers Centre as Toronto finishes the 162-game campaign with a six-game homestand.
3. ROTATION DEPTH
The team’s starting pitchers will play a crucial role in the playoff race.
With one of the best rotations in the league, manager Schneider has several options to choose from for the best-of-three wild-card series.
Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Jose Berrios, Yusei Kikuchi, and Hyun Jin Ryu have all had strong performances this season.
4. STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
Although the Blue Jays’ offensive numbers may not be eye-popping this season, their approach of sharing the load has proven successful.
Eight players have hit at least 10 home runs, and seven players have driven in at least 50 runs.
The team struggled with runners in scoring position early in the season, but they have rebounded since August and now boast a respectable team average in those situations.
Story continues below advertisement
5. PLAYOFF HISTORY
In recent years, the Blue Jays have faced disappointment in the wild-card series.
They were swept by the Seattle Mariners last fall, and narrowly missed a playoff berth in 2021, only to be swept by the Rays in 2020.
However, the team had success in the previous single wild-card game format, advancing to the American League Championship Series in 2016 after defeating the Baltimore Orioles.
The Blue Jays last won the World Series in 1993.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on September 7, 2023.
Follow @GregoryStrongCP on X.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
