Field Level Media
28 Sep 2025, 14:55 GMT+10
(Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)
The Toronto Blue Jays' assignment for Sunday afternoon is clear when they face the visiting Tampa Bay Rays in the final game of the regular season.
If the Blue Jays (93-68) win, they will finish first in the American League East. If they happen to stumble, a loss by the New York Yankees also would work for them.
Toronto and New York are tied atop the division, but the Blue Jays hold the tiebreaker because they won the season series between the teams 8-5.
The Blue Jays won their third in a row on Saturday, 5-1 over the Rays (77-84) with rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage pitching five scoreless innings for his first win in his third career major league start.
'Really impressive for a 22-year-old who started the year in (Class A),' Toronto manager John Schneider said. 'He showed us that he can pitch in big spots, and he enjoyed the moment a little bit. He made big pitches and picked up our defense.'
The Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles 6-1 on Saturday to keep pace with Toronto but need help from Tampa Bay.
Toronto plans to entrust the potential clinching game to right-hander Kevin Gausman (10-11, 3.47 ERA). Gausman is 8-9 with a 3.91 ERA in 25 career games (23 starts) against the Rays. He is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA against them in two starts this season.
The Rays are scheduled to start rookie left-hander Ian Seymour (4-2, 2.85). He allowed one unearned run over seven in innings on Sept. 17 against Toronto in Tampa Bay's 2-1 home victory.
He will be facing a confident opponent.
'There has been confidence within this group, and myself and the coaching staff since Day 1,' Schneider said. 'And now it comes down to one game to win the division. I think that if we focus on playing our game, we will be fine. We have been really good at that over 161 games, so I don't expect it to change for 162.'
Infielder Ernie Clement, whose two-run double opened the scoring in a three-run second on Saturday, said, 'There is no doubt in our minds that we can win a World Series.
'I think we have the pieces,' he added. 'We have the mindset.'
Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk snapped an 0-for-24 drought with a home run in the seventh on Saturday.
Seymour, who made his major league debut on June 9, will be making his fifth start and 19th appearance.
'Looking back on the year and where I started and where I finished, being here is just something I'm so grateful for,' Seymour said. 'I'm going to put everything I have into going into the offseason on a good note.'
Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda is looking forward to Sunday. He returned from a fractured left wrist on Friday to homer in his first at-bat and homered again on Saturday.
'It's going to be really fun and enjoyable,' Aranda said. 'The Blue Jays are playing playoff baseball right now. Same with the Yankees.'
Tampa Bay's Yandy Diaz was 1-for-2 on Saturday and left the game with a .300 batting average. It is possible he will not play on Sunday.
Tampa Bay is three stolen bases short of matching the team record of 194 set in 2009.
'We have a team that was built with a lot of speed,' Rays manager Kevin Cash said. 'Our guys have done a good job of making better decisions on the bases than we have in the past.'
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Cambodian Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Cambodian Times.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: Hillary Clinton criticized Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Trump administration this week, accusing them of undermining...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A federal judge this week declined to reinstate eight former inspectors general who sued after being abruptly dismissed...
GOYANG, South Korea: The country's National Assembly is expected to pass the Tattooist Act, which would formally allow non-medical...
OSLO, Norway: When the Nobel Peace Prize is announced on October 10, experts say one name can safely be ruled out: U.S. President Donald...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump's approval rating edged down in recent weeks as concerns grew over the U.S. economy and his...
OSLO, Norway: Norwegian police said this week they were investigating an explosion in central Oslo, where a second device was later...
(Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images) The Toronto Blue Jays' assignment for Sunday afternoon is clear when they face the visiting...
New Delhi [India], September 28 (ANI): Fast bowler Arundhati Reddy is likely fit for the September 30 tournament opener against Sri...
Anantnag (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 28 (ANI): As India and Pakistan prepare for a historic Asia Cup 2025 final clash, young...
(Photo credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images) A pair of rookies will look to conclude their torrid finishes when the visiting Chicago White...
(Photo credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images) Two managers with uncertain futures send their teams out for what could be the final...
(Photo credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images) In the midst of a special season, Cristopher Sanchez gets one final postseason tune-up...
