Blue Jays Clinch Playoff Spot; Chase AL East

The Toronto Blue Jays have clinched a postseason berth and are now focused on securing the AL East, holding a one-game lead over the New York Yankees with a magic number of four to clinch the division. Toronto opened a crucial homestand against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre, where Boston won the series opener 4-1, limiting the Blue Jays to three hits and leaving nine runners stranded. A recent late rally by the Yankees moved them within a game, keeping the division race alive with only days remaining in the regular season. Toronto’s division odds have tightened after a late-season dip, and clinching the AL East would grant a bye through the wild-card round and home-field advantage in the ALDS. The AL wild-card picture remains crowded — Boston, Detroit, Cleveland and Houston are all contending for the remaining spots — while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continues to anchor the Blue Jays’ lineup.