Blue Jays AL East Recap: Don’t Count Them Out Yet

Blue Jays win key division series, keeping them in the mix

Each week, Jays Journal will take a look at the bigger picture of the AL East to help frame not only where the Blue Jays are in the standings, but why they are there.

Boston Red Sox: 30-20
Baltimore orioles 28-20
Toronto Blue Jays: 26-26
New York Yankees: 24-25
Tampa Bay Rays: 22-26

Though the Blue Jays didn’t see any late game heroics to save their 5-3 loss on Sunday and secure the sweep, the Blue Jays won the series against both the Yankees and the Red Sox paving the way back to a .500 record.

These were big series’ for the Blue Jays, who won’t play out of division for another two sets (both against the Yankees and Red Sox again). With a tough division like the AL East a win is a win, and the Jays will take all four they got this week.

Despite losing Tory Tulowitzki late in the week to the Disabled List, the Blue Jays saw offensive production from the usual bunch and got a stellar week from the struggling Russell Martin. The call-up of Devon Travis also had an immediate impact, despite not batting leadoff.

The bullpen was better, holding some key games long enough for the offence to bring them back. The rotation struggled late in the week against Boston, which can be considered more of an outlier against a strong lineup than actual regression.

Final Takeaway:

The Blue Jays will look to continue their recent success against the exact same foes this week. If the Blue Jays can continue to hang tough against the Yankees and Red Sox, they can entrench themselves in the middle of the pack, poised to strike during a hot streak.

Next: Sox mash their way to sole posession of First