Official: Blue Jays qualified for 2022 playoffs
Even though the Blue Jays weren’t playing today, they managed to accomplish something important: they’re in the playoffs.
Thanks to the Red Sox’s victory (thus the Orioles’ loss, actually), Toronto’s magic number is now zero.
Last year, the club missed the playoffs by one game. This year, one week from the end, here they are among the MLB elite.
The guys can’t celebrate on the field after a game under such conditions, but still: I dare believe they gathered to watch the Orioles game. The Jays can therefore thank JD Martinez, in particular.
The last time the club made the playoffs was in 2020, under manager Charlie Montoyo. Out of 60 games (and with more than half of the league in the playoffs), the club had qualified by the skin of the buttocks.
Before? We have to go back to 2016, 2015… and 1993.
There are therefore eight qualified teams at present. We are talking about four clubs in the National as well as four in the American.
The Astros, Yankees and Guardians have won their division and among the three positions of best second will be the Jays.
The club deserve their place in the sun, but the next step will be to make sure they can play games at home. That’s a bigger challenge.
The Rays and Mariners, barring a surprise from the Orioles, will be the other teams in the race. Will Toronto be able to finish ahead of their opponents?
The Rays (Guardians) and Mariners (Rangers) are in action today, unlike the Blue Jays, who are on leave – the last one before game #162 and before next Thursday’s break.
Their first game in the playoffs will undoubtedly take place on October 7, whether in Toronto, Tampa Bay or Seattle. Alek Manoah is the pitcher who should be on duty…unless he’s used in Game #162 to help his club qualify. It is possible, that.
The challenge? Securing home advantage before the last game of the year in order to rest Alek Manoah for the match on Friday 7 October.
The Blue Jays have six games left in the season: three games at home (Friday-Sunday) against Boston and three games (Monday-Wednesday) at Baltimore.
