Why This Road Trip Could Decide Blue Jay’s Postseason Fate

Six-and-a-half-games. That was what the Toronto Blue Jays lead in the AL East division was on July 26. It has steadily gone down since that point with Toronto owning a record of 16-17 over the last 33 games. Both the Yankees and the Red Sox have climbed back to within striking distance and with the Blue Jays currently on a six game road trip - their hold on the AL East could be gone by the time they get back home on September 9.

Toronto already dropped a game they should have won, losing 5-4 in the opener on Monday afternoon. The Blue Jays pitching did it's job, holding the Reds to two-runs over the first eight innings, and then they imploded. Toronto took a late lead thanks to home runs from Bo Bichette and Daulton Varsho in the ninth inning, but the Reds rallied, getting runs off Tommy Nance and Brendon Little in the ninth to walk off the Blue Jays.

Why This Road Trip Could Decide Blue Jay’s Postseason Fate

Toronto might be counting their lucky stars that the Yankees had an off-day on Monday as they weren't able to make up more than half-a-game in the standings, but that's half-a-game they have made up without having to lift a finger. The Yankees begin a three game series against the Astros on Tuesday before an AL East showdown begins in the Bronx on Friday.

The Blue Jays could come out of that three game series with the Yankees ahead of the AL East by a handful of games, or they could be sitting behind both the Yankees and the Red Sox. The next five games of this road trip could decide the Blue Jays fate in how they end up in the postseason as it's the final head to head matchup with the Yankees in the regular season.

Even the most optimistic Blue Jays fans probably didn't foresee them contending for the AL East when the season began, but now it almost feels like a Wild Card berth is almost a disappointment. While the Blue Jays could still just play .500 ball the rest of the season and make the playoffs, it isn't the way this team should be heading into October baseball, in a year where they showed they could be the best team in the league for an extended stretch.

All of that hard work and effort could be undone by these next five games if the Blue Jays fall behind the Yankees.