The Yankees had a nice little run there, sweeping the Nationals and White Sox, then grabbing a win over the Blue Jays, but it didn’t last long. They’re right back to the same issues we’ve seen for months: Blowing games late and the bullpen falling apart. Just look at that first game against the Tigers. It was basically a replay of all their mid-season struggles, capped off with a brutal 12-2 loss.

Now, for Yankee fans, that’s tough to swallow. But for the Blue Jays, it couldn’t come at a better time. Just as New York was creeping within two games, that loss gave Toronto some breathing room. And you get the sense the Blue Jays’ broadcast team has been waiting for the perfect chance to fire back at Michael Kay’s comments. “The Blue Jays are not a first-place team and were not playing great baseball,” Kay remarked back in July.

And now the 12-2 loss against the Tigers offered a sudden opportunity for the Blue Jay broadcasters for redemption. “You know, the Yankees. They’re not a good team. I don’t care what the record is. They have a lot of wild pitches. They make a lot of mistakes in the field. And they don’t run the bases very well. If they don’t hit home runs, they don’t have a chance to win.” Jomboy Media quoted the Blue Jays broadcasters taking on the Yankees during the Blue Jays-Astros game.

The game was a total disaster for the Yankees’ bullpen. Notably, the seventh inning completely unraveled with four walks, one HBP, a wild pitch, plus a leadoff double, two RBI singles, and a two-run triple. The result? Eight runs for the Tigers, without a single out. And to make matters worse, New York became just the second team in the last 75 years to have two relievers each give up four or more earned runs without getting a single out!

And on the offensive side? There was a chance to chip away when Anthony Volpe came up in the fifth with runners on first and second and no outs. But he couldn’t get a bunt down, fouled one off, and then lined out to third. Enough for the Blue Jays to be happy about and get on with the brutal on-air criticism!

What’s ahead for the Blue Jays?

With the Yankees’ latest loss, the Blue Jays got a lead of 3 games, but is that enough for the table-topper to win the division?

There are 18 games left on the Blue Jays’ schedule, and their magic number to clinch the AL East is also down to 18. And to simply lock up a playoff spot, it’s just 11. Hence, it is almost certain that the Blue Jays are headed to October. What’s more?

The Yankees’ loss now only helps Toronto’s chances of taking the division. And that’s huge, considering the Blue Jays haven’t actually won the East since 2015! And the perks of winning the division are pretty straightforward.

Home-field advantage for the first series and, more importantly, it likely comes with a first-round bye. And let’s be real, avoiding the wild-card round is massive. That stage has been nothing but heartbreak for the Blue Jays in their last three playoff appearances.

So, if Toronto can lock down the number one seed in the AL, the benefits only get even bigger. Now, all eyes will be on September baseball, which always has a way of getting crazy, and with three weeks to go, there’s still plenty to play for.