Blue Jays, Yankees Tied for AL East Lead

The Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees are deadlocked atop the American League East, with Toronto holding the head-to-head tiebreaker and having already clinched a playoff berth. Toronto has slumped — losing six of seven and often scoring one run or fewer — while dealing with key injuries including Bo Bichette’s PCL sprain and mounting internal frustration as they enter their final home series against the Tampa Bay Rays with three games remaining. New York has surged to match Toronto’s record, winning five straight (and eight of nine), and closes with a comparatively easier slate against the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles. Because Toronto owns the tiebreaker, a three-game sweep of Tampa Bay would clinch the AL East for the Blue Jays; any slip could hand the division to the Yankees or leave both clubs to the wild-card route. The division outcome will affect postseason seeding, rest and the guaranteed berth in the AL Division Series that the division winner secures.