KANSAS CITY -- Now that the Blue Jays have finally punched their ticket to the postseason, it’s time to aim higher.
Next up? Clinching the American League East and locking up their bye to the American League Division Series, where this organization hasn’t been since 2016.
This isn’t another young, upstart Blue Jays team just happy to be invited to the party, though. The Blue Jays own the best record in the American League and enter the postseason as legitimate World Series threats. It’s been a dream season for the Blue Jays, but they still need their dream ending.
Here’s everything you’ll need to know ahead of the postseason, updated daily:
What could the postseason roster look like?
C: Alejandro Kirk, Tyler Heineman
1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
2B: Andrés Giménez
SS: Bo Bichette, Isiah Kiner-Falefa
3B: Addison Barger, Ernie Clement
OF: Daulton Varsho, Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, Davis Schneider
DH: George Springer
SP: Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Max Scherzer, Trey Yesavage, Chris Bassitt (with at least one starter, likely Bassitt, pitching out of the bullpen)
RP: Jeff Hoffman, Seranthony Domínguez, Louis Varland, Yariel Rodríguez, Brendon Little, Tommy Nance, Braydon Fisher, Mason Fluharty
Who will the Blue Jays face?
As the No. 1 seed in the American League, the Blue Jays would face the winner of the first and second Wild Card teams. Right now, that would be the Yankees and Red Sox, and you can keep an eye on how that picture unfolds in real time with our MLB Postseason Watch.
When will the postseason begin for the Blue Jays?
They’re on track to not only clinch the American League East but also lock up the top spot in the American League, which will give them a bye past the Wild Card Series. This would give the Blue Jays some valuable extra rest, allowing them to reset their rotation and give Bo Bichette some extra time to recover.
This would also give the Blue Jays home-field advantage in the ALDS and a potential ALCS. That’s a major advantage for the Blue Jays, who have been one of baseball’s best teams at home in 2025.
How will the Blue Jays’ rotation line up?
Kevin Gausman feels like the best bet for Game 1 of the ALDS, pairing a hot stretch over the past few weeks with an excellent track record in Toronto. Entering the final year of his five-year deal in 2026, this is a major opportunity for Gausman to record the Blue Jays’ first postseason win since 2016.
Shane Bieber likely lines up as the No. 2 starter, but beyond that, things get interesting. Max Scherzer and Trey Yesavage are a fascinating duo at 41 and 22 years old, respectively, while Chris Bassitt remains an option if the Blue Jays choose to shorten one of the other starters up. José Berríos, who was recently moved to the bullpen, will likely be left on the outside looking in.
What about the other starting pitchers?
This could potentially turn into a situation where a couple of starters are made available out of the bullpen in the early games while the Blue Jays keep their options open … or at least hold their cards close to their chest.
José Berríos and Eric Lauer would be the odd men out, though. Lauer has an opening as a lefty, but this is another one of those “difficult decisions” great teams are forced to make.
Which position players are on the bubble?
Anthony Santander is still the wild card. Bo Bichette’s recovery from his left knee sprain is a factor, too, but as he begins to ramp up, the Blue Jays are hopeful he’ll be healthy enough -- even if that’s not 100% -- by Oct. 4. With Santander, it’s a different conversation.
Santander has missed over half the season with his left shoulder injury. On top of that, he struggled prior to the injury and is a notoriously slow starter. Santander is still a key piece of the Blue Jays’ future and still fully worthy of the five-year, $92.5 million deal he signed this past winter, but the amount of time he’s missed this season creates a real challenge.
Joey Loperfido and Ty France could be under consideration, too, but the Blue Jays will need some clarity on Bichette’s status before that picture can take shape.
What gives the Blue Jays their best shot to win the World Series?
If this is going to happen, the Blue Jays need to play their own brand of baseball, which is built on elite defense, an all-hands-on-deck approach to offense and pitching that’s solid. This is what’s gotten them to the top of the American League, and now is not the time to call an audible.
Looking down the road at a potential ALCS and World Series, though, the Blue Jays need star power. The Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies and Padres have plenty, and if one player takes over a game, that can flip a series in an instant. The Blue Jays will need that eventually, which is why this postseason run is begging for one of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Bo Bichette to have their first big October moment … or George Springer to have another.