The Toronto Blue Jays currently lead the American League East, and they are currently in the drivers seat for homefield advantage in the American League as well, and they've made a believer out of former catcher A.J. Pierzynski.

The Toronto Blue Jays enter play on Monday at 87-62 and in first place in the American League East. As they look to win their first American League East title since 2015, Toronto is four games up on the Yankees with 13 games to play.

They also lead the Detroit Tigers by 2.5 games in the battle for homefield advantage throughout the American League playoffs.

And former MLB catcher A.J. Pierzynski is confident in the Jays heading into October, as he discussed on Foul Territory TV:

We'll ​see ​what ​happens, ​with ​them, but ​I ​know ​this: The ​American ​League ​is ​going ​to ​have ​to ​go ​through ​Toronto. ​You're going to ​have ​to ​go ​to ​Toronto ​and ​win ​games. ​And ​that ​is ​not ​the ​easiest ​place ​on ​earth ​to ​go ​​to ​win. ​It ​gets ​loud, ​it ​gets ​crazy. ​We ​saw ​back ​they ​were ​good, ​you ​know, ​2015 ​with ​the ​bat ​flip ​and ​all ​that ​stuff. ​When ​the ​place ​gets ​rocking, ​it ​is ​not ​an ​easy ​place ​for ​them ​to ​go.

​So ​I ​think ​this ​team ​has ​a ​great ​opportunity ​to ​not ​only ​obviously ​win ​the ​East...​They ​should ​have ​that ​locked ​down ​and ​then ​also ​represent ​the ​American ​League ​in ​the ​World ​Series...Everyone ​still ​ ​doesn't ​understand ​how ​good ​Toronto ​can ​be ​when ​that ​country ​and ​that ​stadium ​gets ​behind ​them. ​They ​are ​incredible. ​It ​is ​loud ​if ​the ​roof ​is ​closed. ​Holy ​cow. ​It ​is ​so ​loud ​in ​that ​place. ​And ​they ​play ​great ​at ​home. ​So ​I ​think ​they're ​in ​a ​great ​spot, ​I ​think ​not ​only ​to ​win ​the ​East, ​but ​to ​win ​the ​American ​League.

A great story

The Blue Jays finished 74-88 last season and finished last in the American League East. There were questions about whether or not the Jays should tear it down and rebuild in the offseason, but they elected to keep the core together. They held on to Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., while also signing high-leverage reliever Jeff Hoffman and trading for infielder Andres Gimenez. They also made a serious run at Roki Sasaki, in addition to signing Anthony Santander.

They doubled down on their organizational future in the early signing, signing Guerrero to a $500 million extension.

Additional reason for optimism

While he's only hit .179 this season, and has only played in 50 games because of a shoulder injury, Santander could be back in short order, providing the team with another source of power into the playoffs. It's certainly not a done deal that he'll be successful in his return, but he's a big chip that manager John Schneider still has to play.

Remaining schedule

According to Tankathon, the Blue Jays have the 11th-hardest schedule remaining. They have three against Kansas City and three against Boston, while also playing seven against Tampa Bay.

MLB Remaining Schedule Strength | Tankathon Shows the remaining strength of schedule for MLB teams based on the winning percentage of the opponents left on their schedule.