TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays did simply sufficient to carry off the hard-charging New York Yankees within the race for the American League East title, clinching the division crown on the ultimate day of the common season with a 13-4 win Sunday over the visiting Tampa Bay Rays.
The win gave the Blue Jays the very best report within the American League and home-field benefit till the World Series. It additionally superior Toronto on to an American League Division Series as an alternative of getting to battle via a wild-card matchup.
However, Toronto’s path to the AL Championship Series will undergo both the Yankees or the Boston Red Sox. Both groups, who’ve but to face Toronto within the post-season, are division rivals who will doubtless give the Blue Jays a tricky combat.
BLUE JAYS VS. YANKEES
Toronto gained the season sequence in opposition to New York 8-5, which proved to be a vital tiebreaker as the 2 groups completed tied within the standings on the finish of the season (94-68). Four of these wins got here throughout a June 30-July 3 sequence sweep at Rogers Centre that moved the Blue Jays into first place within the AL East.
But the Yankees enter the post-season as the most popular crew in baseball, successful eight straight video games and 11 of their final 12. They have been in a position to erase a five-game deficit within the division standings and draw degree with Toronto with 4 video games to go earlier than the Blue Jays recovered from a stumble down the stretch and gained the rest of their video games.
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Both groups are offensive powerhouses. The Bronx Bombers led the majors with 849 runs scored, whereas the Jays have been second within the American League with 798.
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The Yankees’ offence is led by two-time and reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge. The right-fielder had one other monster marketing campaign in 2025, main the majors with a .331 batting common and belting 53 homers and driving in 114 runs.
Bo Bichette, certainly one of Toronto’s offensive catalysts, is on the injured checklist with a left knee pressure. Jays supervisor John Schneider says he hopes to have the star shortstop again for the beginning of the ALDS. Bichette was tied for second within the AL with a .311 batting common. And regardless of lacking the final 20 video games of the season, he completed tied for second within the majors with 181 hits, simply three behind chief Bobby Witt of the Kansas City Royals.
Meanwhile, 36-year-old outfielder/designated hitter George Springer turned again the clock in 2025, batting .309 with 32 homers and 84 RBIs. And famous person first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit .292 with 23 homers and 84 RBIs.
The Yankees seem to have an edge in pitching, with two starters in Max Fried (19-5, 2.86 ERA) and Carlos Rodon (18-9, 3.03 ERA) who flirted with 20 wins this season. Toronto had two pitchers in double-digit wins — Chris Bassitt (11-9, 3.96 ERA) and Kevin Gausman (10-11, 3.59 ERA). Bassitt is on the injured checklist with again irritation however the Jays hope to have him again for the ALDS. Toronto has a few choices with excessive upsides in Shane Bieber, who Toronto acquired from Cleveland on the commerce deadline and has seemed strong after present process Tommy John surgical procedure, and promising rookie Trey Yesavage.
Toronto nearer Jeff Hoffman had 33 saves, third within the AL, out of 40 alternatives. The Yankees’ closing project has been cut up between Devin Williams (18 saves in 22 probabilities) and David Bednar (10 saves in 13 probabilities).
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BLUE JAYS VS. RED SOX
The Blue Jays once more gained the season sequence 8-5, however 10 video games of the sequence happened within the first half of the season when the Red Sox had a shedding report.
Boston turned its season round within the second half and put the Blue Jays’ probabilities to clinch the AL East unsure within the penultimate sequence of the season.
Boston gained the primary two video games at Rogers Centre by a mixed rating of 11-2 because the surging Yankees pulled degree. Toronto gained the ultimate recreation 6-1 earlier than closing out with the sweep of the Rays.
Boston doesn’t have an offensive star of the calibre of Judge or Bichette, however it will probably nonetheless put up runs. Boston’s 5 wins in opposition to the Jays got here with a mixed rating of 40-8, and three of them got here on the street.
The Red Sox even have a harmful ace pitcher in Garrett Crochet, who’s 4-1 with a 0.94 ERA and 24 strikeouts in six appearances (4 begins) in opposition to Toronto.
Red Sox nearer Aroldis Chapman has 32 saves in 34 probabilities and has 85 strikeouts over 61 1/3 innings.
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YANKEES VS. RED SOX
Who will win the battle of the bitter archrivals to face the Jays within the ALDS? While the Yankees have the momentum, the Red Sox took 9 of 13 video games on this 12 months’s season sequence.
Boston has additionally gained the final three playoff matchups with the Yankees, together with an exhilarating comeback from 3-0 down within the 2004 ALCS earlier than occurring to win the World Series.
They additionally beat the Yankees 3-1 in a 2018 ALDS en route to a different World Series title and downed New York in a one-game wild-card spherical in 2021.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Sept. 29, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
