The Toronto Blue Jays' potential clincher in their march to the post-season will air on Sportsnet.
As the team continues to look for its first ticket to the playoffs in two years on Friday, Sportsnet struck a deal with Apple TV to simulcast the broadcast of a game against the Kansas City Royals on Rogers airwaves.
Sportsnet will produce Blue Jays Central pre-game at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT as well as post-game while carrying the Apple TV+ production of the game broadcast.
"This is a really exciting time of year for Blue Jays fans, and we wanted to try and find a way for Canadians to watch Friday’s game on Sportsnet, especially at this pivotal moment of the season. In working with the Blue Jays, Major League Baseball and Apple TV, glad we found a way," a Rogers spokesperson said.
When it became apparent that the Blue Jays' post-season spot could be locked up on the Friday Apple TV+ broadcast, both Sportsnet and the team approached MLB to engage the streamer on a potential deal.
The league then facilitated an agreement, which will also see Apple TV take over exclusive broadcast rights of the Sept. 26 game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Toronto’s magic number for clinching its berth in the post-season now stands at one entering play Friday. The Blue Jays can secure a berth with a victory and losses by at least two of the Tigers, Red Sox and Guardians.
As MLB explains, the Blue Jays' worst possible finish would be 90-72, and that would be below each of Cleveland, Boston and Detroit's loss totals through Friday if at least two of these teams lose.
This is because next week there are three head-to-head matchups between Detroit and Cleveland, and three head-to-head games between Detroit and Boston, and as a result, one team would be guaranteed to finish at 73 or more losses if at least two of these teams lose on Friday.
