The Toronto Blue Jays on their way to fame in series
The Toronto Blue Jays finally validated their ticket for the series. And in a Rogers Centre that prepares to vibrate as rarely, the goal is no longer limited to « Just participate ». No. The team wants to get the title of America's East Division. The Yankees are still in the mirror, but Toronto has the cards in hand. And it's good, because the regular season ends at home, with a series of six high-voltage games. First stop: the Boston Red Sox Get in town.
One last boiling bend
With a record of 90 wins for 66 defeats, the Jays secured their place in October. The timing couldn't have been better: on Sunday, they atomized Kansas City to stop a nasty series of four consecutive setbacks. The attack, hitherto silent, woke up at once, sending a clear message to the rest of the league: Toronto did not intend to arrive in series on the tip of the feet.
Opposite, the Red Sox play their survival. With 85 wins and 71 defeats, Boston is still racing for a wildcard, but each match counts double. There is no question of getting out of Toronto empty-handed, at the risk of their season ending before they even tasted in October. That's to say, the rivalry will be electric.
The launcher duel
Tuesday night will be Kevin Gausman Who'll take the mound for the Jays. A veteran who knows the Red Sox well, and has already proven that he can muzzle them. On his last release against Boston, he had delivered eight almost perfect runs, granting only one undeserved point. His ERA this season revolves around 3.5, proof of a precious consistency in a sometimes irregular rotation.
In front, Boston will bet on Lucas Giolito. The right-handed man did not have a dream season, far from there, but he remains able to make a solid performance when the pressure rises. The Red Sox are counting on him to set the tone and, most importantly, to calm down a Toronto attack that just found his biter.
Toronto facing its destiny
It's all the beauty of sport: in the space of a week, the regular season can turn into a springboard to glory... or a free fall to frustration. Toronto has not won its division since 2015. Since then, the club has experienced ups, downs, reconstructions, aborted hopes. This time, the Jays have the opportunity to write a different page, with a young, explosive, but finally more mature team.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. must become again the offensive engine that everyone expects. Bo Bichette, often clutch in great moments, will also have a say. And if George Springer goes on, the attack can compete with any offensive power on the circuit. The key, as often in October, will be bullpen. Toronto has already lost too many tight games by allowing advances at the end of the game. Could not repeat these errors now.
Rogers Centre ready to roar
Sometimes it is forgotten, but the Rogers Centre can become a real fortress. When the room is full, when the roof is closed and every throw is received by a roar, the energy is contagious. The Jays will need it, because the Yankees will not let anything go by the end. Two games ahead, it can evaporate in a blink of an eye. But it can also be enough to seal a title that has been waiting for almost a decade.
The final sprint
The table is set. The Red Sox play their survival, the Blue Jays their legacy. Each round will be scrutinized, every mistake magnified, every shot sure celebrated as a goal in the World Cup final. Baseball is sometimes slow, contemplative, but at this very moment it becomes a nerve sport. Toronto is fortunate to write a story that will resonate for a long time in memory.
The road to glory is just beginning, but it goes through these six home matches. And if the Jays really want to show up as bosses, it starts tonight, facing Boston.
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