The Toronto Blue Jays became the first American League team to secure a postseason berth with an 8-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, clinching with one week remaining in the regular season.
Toronto leads the AL East and holds the best record in the American League at 90-66. The Blue Jays overcame a sluggish 16-20 start through early May and trailed by eight games in their division during late May.
Manager John Schneider credited the team\'s turnaround to their May series against Texas following a sweep in Tampa Bay. This marks Toronto\'s third playoff appearance in four years and fourth in six seasons after missing the postseason in 2021 and 2024.
The Blue Jays lead the AL East by 2½ games over the New York Yankees with six games remaining. Toronto hosts Boston and Tampa Bay in a season-ending homestand as they pursue their first division title since 2015.
\"You could feel it with this group in spring training,\" Schneider said. \"When you get a group of men that are committed to the same goal, you can do things like this.\"
If the Blue Jays win the division and secure one of the AL\'s two best records, they will advance directly to the AL Division Series starting October 4. This would allow them to avoid the wild-card round for the first time in their recent playoff appearances.
Toronto has not won a postseason game since 2016 despite multiple recent playoff berths. The franchise is seeking its first World Series championship since 1993.
\"Today we go back to the postseason, but the journey is not over yet,\" Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said. \"We still want to win the division over the next six games.\"
The Blue Jays snapped a four-game losing streak with Sunday\'s victory and celebrated with champagne in the visitors\' clubhouse in Kansas City. Schneider praised the team\'s chemistry and collective commitment to their championship goals.
Via ESPN