The Blue Jays were unable to take down the Athletics to secure a spot in the playoffs.
The Toronto Blue Jays haven't' had the season they likely anticipated coming off their World Series berth and American League pennant in 2025.
However, the Blue Jays entered Monday 72-72 and just a half-game behind the Cleveland Guardians for the final wild card spot.
Toronto had to get through the Athletics on Monday at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, Calif., to pull even with the Guardians in the playoff standings and have a share of the final playoff spot in the AL, but was unable to do so.
The Blue Jays lost to the A's 6-5 in the first of the three-game series.
It was an uncharacteristic night for Toronto. Starting pitcher and American League Cy Young candidate Dylan Cease allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits (one homer) in five innings pitched.
Despite Cease's uncharacteristically bad outing, the Blue Jays came back from being down 5-1 through the fifth inning and tied the game in the top of the ninth inning.
In the bottom of the final frame, Zack Gelof hit a walk-off RBI single against the Blue Jays' All-Star closer, Louis Varland, to secure the win.
Similar to Cease, Varland had an uncharacteristic appearance. He walked two batters and allowed the aforementioned run on two hits in 0.2 innings pitched.
Following the loss, Toronto is one game behind Cleveland for the final wild card spot.
The Blue Jays still have many opportunities to secure that final wild card spot before the end of the season.
The remainder of Toronto's schedule is all against teams with losing records. It'll have two more games this series against the Athletics, a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles, a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers, a three-game series against the Texas Rangers, another three games against the Orioles and will wrap up its regular season with a trio of games against the Cincinnati Reds.
The fact that those remaining teams on the Blue Jays schedule all have a losing record is a benefit in and of itself, but Toronto could also see a boost in the pitching staff for the latter half of the month.
Both starting pitchers Trey Yesavage and Shane Bieber, who are both on the injured list for the second time each this season, took steps in their recovery this week. The former is set to throw a live bullpen Thursday after throwing a 34-pitch bullpen Monday.
