Following a four-game sweep at the hands of the Texas Rangers just a week and a half ago, Toronto’s playoff odds plummeted to the mid-30 percents. Perhaps the biggest letdown series of the year, as the Rangers dominated in every facet during their set in Toronto.

Now, three series wins later, Toronto controls their own destiny as they enter the final six games of the regular season - all of which are at the friendly confines of Rogers Centre. As teams have begun to officially clinch playoff berths - Baltimore, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Milwaukee, and the Dodgers - both the AL and NL Wild Cards are left completely open with a week to go in the 2023 regular season campaign.

Toronto has found themselves in the midst of it all, as they currently sit in the 2nd Wild Card position, two games up on the 3rd-seed Houston Astros. Thanks in large part to Kansas City’s string of utter domination over Houstin this month, Seattle - currently out of the playoff picture - sits just a half game back of the Astros for the final spot. And, as fate would have it, their next three games are against Houston.

On the Blue Jays front, they’re on pace for a Wild Card matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays - a team who just lost two-of-three to Toronto this weekend. Toronto’s final series of the regular season will be against the Rays, which could have bearing for both teams. Toronto, fighting to clinch a playoff berth, and Tampa Bay in their efforts to catch Baltimore for the division lead.

Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, and Chris Bassitt are lined up to face the Yankees beginning Tuesday, which then puts the Blue Jays’ ace on track to start the regular season finale against Tampa Bay on October 1st. Heavily dependent on whether or not those games mean anything, Toronto could easily opt to realign their rotation should they clinch a playoff berth prior to September 29th.

Wes Parsons, who started 17 games for the Buffalo Bisons this year, was reassigned today to Toronto’s taxi squad and although not on the current 40-man roster, is likely the spot-starter fill-in should the Blue Jays want one at any point during these last six games. Buffalo’s season is now over, with Parsons having more than enough rest to slot in where needed.

The aforementioned Parsons has seen some Major League time over parts of two seasons with Atlanta and Colorado, going 1-3 with a 5.67 ERA across 33 games in 2018/19. Prior to signing a deal with the Blue Jays, Parsons pitched in the KBO throughout 2021 and 2022, amassing 32 starts with the NC Dinos.

In other Blue Jays news, Alek Manoah has officially been shut down for the remainder of the 2023 season. The Toronto righty never reported to AAA Buffalo, and instead opted to work with the Major League club’s staff north of the border. Having struggled mightily in 2023, Manoah will rejoin the organization’s staff in Spring Training 2024.