The MLB playoff push is our daily look back and ahead at the post-season picture as teams position themselves for October.
Latest on the Toronto Blue Jays: Josh Donaldson returned to the Blue Jays lineup Thursday after missing three games and he brought the offence with him. Donaldson went 3-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored as the Blue Jays opened a major West Coast swing just the way they wanted, with a 7-2 win against the Los Angeles Angels.
Toronto also got some help in the standings with Baltimore and Detroit losing, keeping the Blue Jays in a playoff spot for another day. But everything is temporary at this time of year and the Blue Birds will need to keep the wins coming if they want to play long into October.
R.A. Dickey will be the pitcher tasked with turning Thursday’s victory into a winning streak as he takes the hill in L.A. Friday night. It will be Dickey’s first start since Sept. 5, a loss 5-3 to the Yankees.
If the playoffs started today…
Wild Card
Blue Jays vs. Orioles
ALDS
Rangers vs. Blue Jays or Orioles
Indians vs. Red Sox
Toronto Blue Jays
Next up: Los Angeles Angels
Pitching matchup: R.A. Dickey vs. Jered Weaver
Boston Red Sox
Next up: New York Yankees
Pitching matchup: Clay Buchholz vs. Luis Cessa
Baltimore Orioles
Next up: Tampa Bay Rays
Pitching matchup: Ubaldo Jimenez vs. Chris Archer
Texas Rangers
Next up: Oakland Athletics
Pitching matchup: Cole Hamels vs. Kendall Graveman
Cleveland Indians
Next up: Detroit Tigers
Pitching matchup: Corey Kluber vs. Michael Fulmer
Seattle Mariners
Next up: Houston Astros
Pitching matchup: Felix Hernandez vs. Collin McHugh
If the playoffs started today…
Wild Card
Giants vs. Mets
NLDS
Cubs (clinched NL Central) vs. Giants or Mets
Nationals vs. Dodgers
Chicago Cubs
Next up: Milwaukee Brewers
Pitching matchup: John Lackey vs. Chase Anderson
Washington Nationals
Next up: Atlanta Braves
Pitching matchup: Max Scherzer vs. John Gant
Los Angeles Dodgers
Next up: Arizona Diamondbacks
Pitching matchup: Kenta Maeda vs. Zack Greinke
San Francisco Giants
Next up: St. Louis Cardinals
Pitching matchup: Matt Moore vs. Luke Weaver
New York Mets
Next up: Minnesota Twins
Pitching matchup: Bartolo Colon vs. Jose Berrios
