No one in baseball predicted this.
The Toronto Blue Jays are your 2025 American League East Division Champions. The last time we said that was 2015.
After a 74-win season in 2024, the Blue Jays improved their record by 20 victories, finishing at (94-68) and earning a bye right to the American League Division Series IALDS)
“We never stopped believing in one another and knew that we were really good,” Jays Manager John Schneider said. “A baseball season is long and things happen. You have ups and you have downs.
“I think once we hit our stride, we didn’t think anyone could beat us.”
The Jays will play either the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox in a best-of-five series beginning Saturday in Toronto, while the Yankees and Red Sox begin a best-of-three Wild Card Series Tuesday in the Bronx, New York.
George Springer, who many questioned his future with the club before the season started, led Toronto in home runs with 32.
“It’s just an incredible moment,” said Springer. “I’m so happy for the city, the fans and the country. This is awesome.
Bo Bichette, who missed the last three-plus weeks of the season with a knee injury, could return Saturday.
“I’m feeling better, every day I’m feeling better,” explained Bichette, who hit .311 with 18 homers and a team-leading 94 RBI despite the injury. “But honestly, I don’t know, I don’t know. I don’t have a date, but I will be doing everything I possibly can to get back.”
The biggest advantage for the Blue Jays advancing to the ALDS is letting their pitchers rest, and hopefully setting up a winning starting rotation.
Major League Baseball (MLB) trade deadline acquisition Shane Bieber and Kevin Gausman are the likely locks to start Games 1 and 2. After that things could get interesting with Chris Bassitt set to come off the injured list with back inflammation and veteran Max Scherzer struggling down the stretch.
“As a player this is what you think about. It’s what you dream about as a kid when you play catch with your dad in the backyard,” Gausman said.
The Jays could carry up to 13 pitchers, including relievers, on their post-season roster.
Toronto will now try and return to the American League Championship Series (ALCS) for the first time since 2016.
It all starts Saturday.
“It’s good,” Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said. “But the job is not finished.”
Rod Mawhood is a lifelong Niagara native who has had the pleasure of working in all three mediums – Radio, Print and TV – for over 20 years. His first announcing gig was with the then St. Catharines Stompers. Since then he’s worked in radio and TV in Toronto, and currently is the announcer for the Niagara IceDogs and Niagara River Lions.
Rod also covers the Buffalo Bills for FOX Sports and the Buffalo Sabres for NBC Sports.
