Toronto Blue Jays clinch playoff spot
While it has been a bizarre season for all Major League Baseball teams, the Toronto Blue Jays may have had the most difficult road to resuming the 2020 campaign. They were unable to play home games in Toronto as the Canadian government continues to restrict travel between the United States and has kept the boarder closed. The team looked at several other Major League ballparks they could potentially play in but were ultimately denied every time.
As a result, the Blue Jays were forced to play their home games in Buffalo where their Triple-A affiliate the Buffalo Bisons are located. That didn’t stop them from getting the job done and reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2016 though. Toronto punched their ticket to the postseason with an impressive 4-1 win over the New York Yankees on Thursday evening at Sahlen Field.
“We keep believing in ourselves,” said second-year manager Charlie Montoyo following the game, via Sportsnet. “It’s awesome. I’m so proud of this group. I’m the happiest guy right now.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MLB had to shorten the length of its season to just 60 games after spring training was shut down in March. With the shortened season in place, MLB opted to expand its playoff format as well. Instead of the usual five teams in both the American League and National League reaching the playoffs, MLB altered the postseason structure to include eight teams in both leagues so that a total of 16 teams qualified for the playoffs. The Blue Jays – currently sitting in the eighth seed – benefitted tremendously from the new format.
As of Thursday evening, Toronto would be taking on American League East rivals the Tampa Bay Rays who currently sit in the number one seed. The opening round of the playoffs is a best-of-three series with the higher seed hosting all three games.
“I think the pressure is off — honestly,” Montoyo said. “Just go out and play and have fun. We’re going to enjoy every minute of it. We know that what’s coming is not easy, but that’s fine. It hasn’t been easy the whole time.”
While Tampa Bay has looked good throughout the shortened season, it only takes two losses in the first-round to be eliminated and Toronto is up for the challenge.
“I think we’re a pretty scary team,” said Toronto infielder Cavan Biggio, via Sportsnet. “We’ve seen what we can do with the bats. It’s hard to put us out of games, especially with the way we can score runs.”
“I think not many teams are going to want to face us just because of the edge we play (with), the offence and the bullpen that we have,” Biggio said. “It’s going to be exciting and I’m looking forward to it.”
Toronto wraps up the regular season over the weekend with a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles in Buffalo. They host Baltimore on Friday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 6:37 p.m. Taijuan Walker is expected to get the start for the Blue Jays while Baltimore will go with 27-year-old Jorge Lopez to start the game.
