The Toronto Blue Jays are heading back to the postseason, but it wasn’t without a little dramatic flair.

Tied with the New York Yankees atop the AL East, the Blue Jays’ magic number was at three games heading into their weekend series against the Tampa Bay Rays, and they needed to win every game they could since the Yankees had steamrolled through Chicago and were now facing the Baltimore Orioles.

When the dust settled, both teams swept their respective opponents, and the Jays were heading to the ALDS because they held the tiebreaker over their AL East rival. It was the first time the Jays had swept the Rays since 2015, and the Jays’ bats scored 22 runs in the series, highlighted by a 13-4 drubbing yesterday to clinch the postseason spot.

The Toronto Blue Jays’ pitching staff held their side of the bargain this weekend, limiting the Rays to just seven runs across all three games. Shane Bieber and Trey Yesavage had excellent outings, respectively, and while Kevin Gausman wasn’t his ace-like self yesterday, the bullpen and bats picked him up to help secure the win.

Bieber started the opening contest on Friday and allowed just two runs off five hits with two walks across five innings before giving way to the bullpen, who shut the Rays down the rest of the way. Jeff Hoffman had some tense moments late in the game, walking two and putting runners in scoring position, but he was able to fend off the Rays for his 33rd save of the season.

Rookie Trey Yesavage made the start for Toronto on Saturday, setting up a rematch with Joe Boyle that mimicked Yesavage’s debut down in Tampa just weeks ago. The right-hander held his own through five innings, allowing five hits, two walks while striking out five, earning his first big league win while making his home debut. Yariel Rodriguez would allow one run in the game, but the rest of the bullpen held down the fort to secure the 5-1 victory.

It all came down to the Sunday contest, and the Jays needed a strong start from Kevin Gausman. Unfortunately, Gausman struggled against a pesky Rays squad and allowed eight hits, two walks, and four earned runs through 3 2/3 innings before being lifted in favour of Mason Fluharty, who had to escape a bases-loaded jam. With the bats giving Toronto some cushion to work with, the bullpen went the distance again, allowing just two walks and one hit the rest of the way to seal the victory and the postseason spot, with Eric Lauer getting mobbed on the mound after securing the last out in the top of the ninth inning.

Reliever-wise, the Jays staff performed well, but it was Fluharty who stole the show, going 3 2/3 innings and not allowing a single hit while striking out six batters across both outings.

The Blue Jays’ bats came alive this weekend, putting together 22 hits and finding ways to score with runners in scoring position when it mattered.

In the Friday night contest, it was Nathan Lukes who played the hero, collecting a home run while scoring three of the Jays’ four runs that evening. Next, it was Alejandro Kirk during yesterday’s game, with the catcher launching two home runs, including a grand slam, while also adding a double into the mix to help produce six RBIs on the day. Both players were a big factor in the Blue Jays winning this weekend, with Kirk finishing with three home runs and seven RBIs through the series.

The Jays also got production from George Springer, who collected six hits this weekend, as well as Ernie Clement, Lukes, and Kirk, who produced four hits through the series.

The Blue Jays have finished first in the AL East and secured the number one spot in the American League as well, so they avoid the Wild Card rounds. They will face whoever wins the Wild Card matchup between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, which kicks off on Tuesday.

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