The AL East is deadlocked as the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees are tied for first place with three games remaining. This weekend will determine the division champion based on how they perform against lower-ranked teams. Both teams won their respective home games on Thursday, maintaining an identical record of 91-68 and sharing the best record in the American League.
The Yankees will face the last-place Baltimore Orioles starting Friday, while the Blue Jays will host the fourth-place Tampa Bay Rays at the Rogers Centre. Regardless of the outcomes, both teams have secured playoff berths. The team that finishes on top will secure home-field advantage in the Wild Card Series, likely facing the Boston Red Sox, another AL East rival.
Home-field advantage throughout the best-of-five Division Series will be granted to the division winner, offering a first-round bye. The Yankees have the edge in this race as they hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Blue Jays with an 8-5 season series win. Toronto faces a crucial series against Tampa Bay, against whom they have a 3-7 record this season.
The Blue Jays, led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer, are heading to the playoffs for the fourth time in six years. Meanwhile, the Yankees, fueled by Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, are aiming for their second consecutive division title and third in four years. The Yankees have been on a roll, winning eight of their last nine games and making up ground on the Blue Jays in the past few weeks.
Both teams are focused on finishing strong and carrying momentum into the playoffs. The upcoming series will be a crucial test for their postseason aspirations, with every game holding significant importance in the race for the division crown.