AL Wild Card Standings: how the Rays could ruin the Blue Jays AL East division title plans

This season, the Toronto Blue Jays have the distinct opportunity to accomplish something that they haven’t done in over a decade. That feat that once seemed insurmountable this year for the Blue Jays is capturing the American League East division title. Currently sitting atop the AL East with both the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox hot on their tails, it looks like it will be a battle right down to the wire.

However, a long-time nemesis could get in the way and actually have a chance to ruin those division title plans for the Blue Jays. That nemesis is none other than those pesky Tampa Bay Rays.

How the Rays could ruin the Blue Jays AL East division title plans

In the history of the two franchises, the Rays happen to own the Blue Jays by a considerable margin. With a lifetime 261-211 record against Toronto, Tampa Bay is often a team the Blue Jays fear of playing, especially in the biggest games of the season.

And it just so happens that the only time they had met in the postseason, guess who took the series? The Rays swept the Jays two games to none in the AL Wild Card Series during the COVID-shortened 2020 MLB season.

In fact, Toronto hasn’t won a season series against Tampa Bay since way back in 2017 when they went 10-9 to barely outduel their division rival. Just this season alone, the Jays have only one win to show for in their six matchups to date against the Rays, while being outscored 39-17 in the process. As a result, the fact that Toronto still has seven games left on their schedule against Tampa Bay down the stretch could potentially present horrific nightmares for the boys in blue.  

To make matters worse, the Rays have been red hot of late, winning 10 of their past 14, including a seven-game winning streak during that stretch going into Sunday's game. On top of that, they also are set to face the Red Sox for a three-game series later this month, a team that the Rays have practically been rolled over throughout this season.

In 2025, Boston has posted a dominant 8-2 record against Tampa Bay so far, including taking the last six games in their matchups. So with the Red Sox dominating the Rays and the Rays dominating the Jays, that would be a disastrous combination down the stretch that could lead to Toronto coughing up the AL East pennant when all is said and done.

Hopefully, the Blue Jays will find a way to finally dispatch their feared rival. Otherwise, not only could the Rays stop the Jays from winning the division title, if they end up making the postseason, that would become the worst possible news for Toronto in their quest for the World Series.