Blue Jays: Wild Card complexion could change quickly
![TORONTO, ON - JULY 27: Steve Pearce](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fjaysjournal-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2017-2F07-2F823624694-oakland-athletics-v-toronto-blue-jays-jpg-850x560-bc71aa028d1d68a99e351b342451f744.jpg)
Just when everyone was ready to put a fork in the Toronto Blue Jays 2017 campaign, they channel their inner-2015 season and sweep a four game series in dramatic fashion versus the Oakland Athletics.
There is still a ton of work left to be done if the Blue Jays want to be the Cinderella darlings of 2017, however, this latest win streak has that feeling like they are about to go on a run and win a bunch in a hurry.
The squad gritted out a couple of gutsy team wins this past series including back to back walk off homers the past two games, something that had never been accomplished in Jays history.
Slugger Jose Bautista went on record earlier in the month lobbying for the squad to remain in tact. They are finally playing like the team everyone knew they were capable of being.
“We don’t want this group broken up, ‘ll tell you what, we’re confident in the group we have right here We feel like we can accomplish what we set out to at the beginning of the season with the group we got right now.”
This past victory saw skipper John Gibbons and the battery of Marcus Stroman and Russell Martin tossed in the 5th inning arguing balls and strikes when home plate umpire Will Little had an episode of “Little” Man syndrome.
More from Toronto Blue Jays News
- Matt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays needed
- Blue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right direction
- Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
- Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
- Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King
The Blue Jays are 48-54 and surprisingly only 6 games out of the wild-card currently held by the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals. Sitting between the Jays and a wild card berth is the Orioles 5.5, Angels 5.5, Rangers 4.5, Twins 4.0, Mariners 3.5 and the Rays 1.5 games back.
Obviously having to leapfrog six teams is not ideal however the Angels are in town for a three game set beginning today so the possibility to put them in their rear view mirror is very realistic.
Adding optimism to the chase is the fact that the Orioles are pretenders with serious pitching issues and the Twins are faltering having lost their last 4 and 7 of their last 10.
The Rays also begin a series with the Yankees while the Royals ride into Fenway for a series with the Sox so both of those playdowns could also have wild card ramifications this week.
The Rangers are in the thick of things but apparently are ready to move their ace Yu Darvish who will become a free agent at season’s end.
Next: Blue Jays: Umpire was right, until he threw out Martin
In a season that has tested Blue Jays fans mettle since day one, there is a small glimmer of hope as the Jays build some momentum in the right direction. They need a pile of wins in a hurry but this team has proven in the past what it is capable of so you just never know.