For months, the Jays have battled their way to the top of the AL East; however, some in the U.S. media still do not like to give the team the credit the Jays have earned. That narrative sparked a reaction this week when a Canadian sportscaster openly admitted he was “offended” by how MLB (all teams and veterans too) coverage continues to frame his favourite team as a surprise story instead of a legitimate contender.

On Toronto Sports Rush, Dan O’Toole did not hide his sentiment after going through an ESPN column: “As a Jays fan I take offense. Listen to this sentence in which ESPN had written… ‘The Toronto Blue Jays have somehow managed to hold on to the AL East lead and sit at +750 to win the World Series.’ Somehow managed? They’ve played the games.” The sportscaster has echoed the sentiment of Canadian fans who see the phrasing as dismissive of the Jays, who have earned every bit of its first-place standing. At a record of 89-64 and winners of seven of the last ten games, the team hardly looks like an underdog. Yes, the Jays lost their last game to the Rays, but they are still standing sharp with the 1st position in the AL East, and it is proof that the Jays’ dominance is no fluke.

Keegan Matheson, who joined Dan O’Toole, did not stop to highlight his thoughts either. He said, “It’s interesting still to this day to see how the Blue Jays are written about outside of Canada… They’ve been this good for three months and, man, I can’t wait to see the postseason coverage. It’s going to be built as like, oh god, you have this scrappy team that surprised everybody. Their payroll is a zillion dollars. They’re not a scrappy upstart surprise team. And it’s going to really upset Toronto and Canadian fans who do not like it when Big Bad America does not treat them like a real team”.

Matheson’s statement highlights the core of what multiple Jays fans think: national coverage paints the team as outsiders in their own sport. And as the sportscaster highlighted, reporters “dropping in” late in the season to ask when things “turned around” says just how disconnected some of the broader baseball media can be. The Jays have not just turned it on in September—the team has been this steady all summer long.

What is more compelling is how the team is winning. Matheson pointed out the Jays’ capability to play small ball, execute defensively, and hold a lead. These all are the characteristics that help a team dominate in October. While their comebacks have been a thrilling feature, the sportscaster warned that relying on them will not work against playoff bullpens stacked with multiple closers. Instead, it is the Jays’ mix of timely offense and elite defense that helps the team to place as more than a feel-good story. So dismissing such a proven force as anything less is exactly what is fueling this latest wave of Canadian outrage.

That thought from Canadian voices establishes the stage for what is truly at stake, because while outsiders could downplay the team’s rise, the data tell a story of a team on the brink of a historic finish.

Blue Jays’ playoff destiny in their own hands with the magic number shrinking

John Schneider’s team could have missed its first shot at reaching 90 wins after splitting with the Rays; however, their position atop the AL East remains secure. At 89–64, the team is at the division lead and sits just three wins (or Stephen Vogt’s team losses) away from officially clinching a playoff berth. The Jays’ magic number to command the AL East crown is seven, though with a tiebreaker over the Yankees, it could realistically drop to six. For the team seeking its first division title since 2015, every inning of September baseball looks heavier than the last.

What makes the final stretch more intriguing is the layered playoff picture. The team not only controls its destiny in the division but also has a four-game cushion over the Tigers for the No. 1 seed in the AL. This prize comes with home-field advantage and a coveted first-round bye. With nine games left, containing a closing stretch against the Red Sox and the Rays, the Jays have the scope to solidify themselves as more than just October participants. The Jays could enter the postseason like the 1992 and 1993 championship predecessors.

The Jays are not sneaking into October, the team is marching in with a resume that deserves respect. From Dan O’Toole’s offended reaction to Keegan Matheson’s pointed criticism, Canadians are making it clear: the Jays are not any underdog. With the AL East crown and a top playoff seed within reach, the team has a scope to silence doubters once and for all.