The MLB playoff push is our daily look back and ahead at the post-season picture as teams position themselves for October.
Latest on the Blue Jays: The Blue Jays opened their final homestand of the season with a 9-0 thumping of the New York Yankees, reminding fans just how good this team can be. But at this point of the season, a win in any fashion helps, which makes Saturday’s game against New York equally important.
The win Friday means Toronto remains one game ahead of the Detroit Tigers and 1.5 games ahead of Baltimore in the wild card race, while Houston, Seattle and New York are within reach too. Marcus Stroman will take the mound Saturday in the Blue Jays’ ninth-last game of the season, looking to keep or even extend the lead in this tight race.
If the playoffs started today…
Wild Card
Blue Jays vs. Tigers
ALDS
Rangers vs. Blue Jays or Tigers
Indians vs. Red Sox
Toronto Blue Jays
Next up: New York Yankees
Pitching matchup: Marcus Stroman vs. CC Sabathia
Boston Red Sox
Next up: Tampa Bay Rays
Pitching matchup: Rick Porcello vs. Matt Andriese
Baltimore Orioles
Next up: Arizona Diamondbacks
Pitching matchup: Wade Miley vs. Robbie Ray
Cleveland Indians
Next up: Chicago White Sox
Pitching matchup: Cody Anderson vs. Jose Quintana
Detroit Tigers
Next up: Kansas City Royals
Pitching matchup: Daniel Norris vs. Yordano Ventura
Texas Rangers
Next up: Oakland Athletics
Pitching matchup: Yu Darvish vs. Raul Alcantara
Houston Astros
Next up: Los Angeles Angels
Pitching matchup: Brad Peacock vs. Jhoulys Chacin
Seattle Mariners
Next up: Minnesota Twins
Pitching matchup: Ariel Miranda vs. Tyler Duffey
If the playoffs started today…
Wild Card
Mets vs. Giants
NLDS
Cubs vs. Mets or Giants
Nationals vs. Dodgers
Washington Nationals
Next up: Pittsburgh Pirates
Pitching matchup: Joe Ross vs. Ivan Nova
New York Mets
Next up: Philadelphia Phillies
Pitching matchup: Sean Gilmartin vs. Alec Asher
Chicago Cubs
Next up: St. Louis Cardinals
Pitching matchup: Jason Hammel vs. Alex Reyes
Los Angeles Dodgers
Next up: Colorado Rockies
Pitching matchup: Clayton Kershaw vs. Chad Bettis
San Francisco Giants
Next up: San Diego Padres
Pitching matchup: Madison Bumgarner vs. Jarred Cosart