East Division Championship Approaching Closure for Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are in a tight race for the American League (AL) wild-card spot, with Tampa Bay and Kansas City still in contention. As the season winds down, the Blue Jays prepare for a crucial three-game series against the Royals from September 26-28.
Manager John Schneider is considering a six-man rotation to manage workload, as reported on motorcyclesports.net. This could see Eric Lauer temporarily move to the bullpen, with rookie Braydon Fisher sent to Triple-A to make room for the return of pitcher Bieber.
The Blue Jays have a storied post-season history, last appearing in the World Series in 1993. Since then, they've reached the playoffs three times in the last five years but were swept in the wild-card round each time.
To boost their chances this year, the Blue Jays have been bolstered by top prospect Trey Yesavage, who made his big-league debut on Monday and was dominant, striking out nine batters over five-plus innings.
Another player looking to make a comeback is Anthony Santander, who signed a five-year deal last winter but has been sidelined with a shoulder injury for over three months. Santander is currently playing with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons as he builds up ahead of a potential return to the big-league lineup.
The Blue Jays will also host a three-game homestand against Boston starting September 23, providing another opportunity to secure a playoff spot before the series against Kansas City. Toronto's last post-season victory was in 2016 when the team reached the AL Championship Series for the second straight year.
As the race for the AL wild-card heats up, the Blue Jays will be hoping to draw on their past success and make the most of their remaining games to secure a place in the playoffs.
