Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-14 · by Gregory Strong The Canadian Press
analysis
The Toronto Blue Jays are in contention for a playoff spot as their season nears its end, with only twelve games remaining. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the team's star slugger, is showing signs of a potential breakout performance, having hit his first home run at Rogers Centre this season and boasting a strong .333 batting average over September. The Blue Jays' chances are bolstered by their weaker division rivals; even a .500 record could secure them a playoff spot or division title due to the overall weak standing of American League teams.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Toronto Blue Jays are battling for a playoff spot, entering their final 12 games of the season with a 75-75 record against the Detroit Tigers. They are just one game behind the Cleveland Guardians in the race for the last wildcard berth. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a key player and face of the franchise, showed signs of a potential breakout by hitting his first home run at Rogers Centre this season and achieving a .333 batting average with an impressive .898 OPS over 12 games in September. If Guerrero continues to perform well, it could significantly boost the Blue Jays' chances for another strong postseason run after reaching the World Series last year. The American League's competitive landscape appears weak overall, suggesting a team with a mediocre record like the .500 mark might still secure a division title or wildcard spot.
Written for “Blue Jays Playoff Race” on 2026-09-14,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 9255 · logged 2026-09-14
Baseball’s stretch drive is here and the Toronto Blue Jays are in the mix as they aim to return to the post-season after reaching the World Series last fall.
asserted
they → aim → Series
With 12 games to go entering play Monday against the visiting Detroit Tigers, here’s a look at five things to watch over the season’s final fortnight.
asserted
look → go → fortnight
SWEET STROKE
Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr., is showing signs that he may be ready for a long-awaited breakout.
uncertain
he → show → breakout
Over the weekend, the face of the franchise homered at Rogers Centre for the first time this season.
asserted
face → homer → time
It was part of a 4-for-5 day that included a curtain call from the sellout crowd.
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that → include → crowd
He entered play against Detroit with a .333 batting average and .898 OPS (on-base plus slugging) over 12 games in September.
asserted
He → enter → September
But if the first baseman gets hot like he did last October — look out.
asserted
he → get → ?
The American League has never seemed weaker and that may be good news for the reigning AL champions.
uncertain
that → seem → champions
The third wild-card spot will likely go to a team with a similar mark.
asserted
spot → go → mark
Detroit squeaked in last year with a record of 87-75.
asserted
Detroit → squeak → 87
The Blue Jays, who took a 75-75 record into their opener against the Tigers, were just one game behind the Cleveland Guardians in the race for the final berth.
asserted
who → take → berth
Some much-needed relief may soon be on the way.
uncertain
relief → need → way
Trey Yesavage, who has been out six weeks after undergoing knee surgery, was scheduled to make a rehab appearance for triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.
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who → undergo → Tuesday
Fellow right-hander Shane Bieber (shoulder) is also making progress but his timeline is less certain.
asserted
timeline → make → progress
Slugger Anthony Santander (shoulder) has been playing with the Bisons and could be a late-September addition.
uncertain
Santander → play → Bisons
TIEBREAKERS
Baseball’s old “Game 163” setup to break ties was retired a few years ago.
asserted
setup → break → ties
If teams finish with the same regular-season record, Major League Baseball has a list of criteria to determine which club gets the spot.
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club → finish → spot
The Blue Jays hold the tiebreaker over the Guardians thanks to a better head-to-head record.
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Jays → hold → record
However, if Cleveland wins the Central and Chicago falls into the wild-card spot, the White Sox have the tiebreaker edge on Toronto.
asserted
Sox → win → Toronto
Entering the opener against Detroit, Toronto had won 11 of 17 games to greatly improve its chances.
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Toronto → enter → chances
Every opponent the Blue Jays play the rest of the way — Detroit, Texas, Baltimore and Cincinnati — currently has a sub-.500 record.
asserted
Jays → play → record
At the start of the day Monday, Toronto had a 43.4-per chance of qualifying for the post-season per FanGraphs.
asserted
Toronto → have → FanGraphs
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 14, 2026.
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report → publish → Press
