The Jays are on the road.

They’re down in Cincinnati to take on the Reds this weekend for a three-game set. With Monday and Thursday off bookending a two-game series split with the Philadelphia Phillies, the Jays must be feeling a bit refreshed.

And it could come at a critical time, too.

The Jays enter this series half a game up on the Seattle Mariners in the wild card race, and three back of the Houston Astros. This next week — one that will see the Jays also face the Baltimore Orioles — could play a factor in determining their fate when playoff matchups are finalized.

Simply put: Toronto needs to gain some ground here. It will be a tough series this weekend against a Reds club teeming with young talent

First pitch: 4:40 p.m EST — Apple TV+, Sportsnet 650.

Toronto Blue Jays: 67-55, 7.5 GB, – WCGB, +55 DIFF.

Cincinnati Reds: 63-59, 2.0 GB, – WCGB, -20 DIFF.

Moneyline: TOR +102; CIN -110.

TOR: Jose Berrios RHP – 9-8, 24 GS, 140.1 IP. 3.53 ERA, 119 ERA+, 4.00 FIP, 1.219 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9, 8.5 SO/9.

CIN: Brett Kennedy RHP – 1-0, 1 GS, 7.0 IP. 5.14 ERA, 94 ERA+, 2.97 FIP, 1.143 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9, 5.1 SO/9.

Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio as the crew talks about the Jays’ latest series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.