The hope will not be extinguished until there is an “E” next to the Toronto Blue Jays’ name in standings.

Despite mainly being sellers at this year’s trade deadline, the Blue Jays have played much better over the last few weeks. On Wednesday, they defeated the Houston Astros in extra innings, not just coming back to win the game, but also winning three consecutive series.

Over their last nine games, the Jays are 6-3, and 8-5 over their last 13 games. That has brought them to just three games behind the final wild card, albeit with six teams to jump. Improbable? Yes. Impossible? No.

On Thursday, they’ll play a make-up game against the Chicago Cubs, as the series finale on June 21st was rained out. A win in this game could see the Blue Jays move to just two and a half games behind the final wild card, that is if results fall their way on Thursday. The Minnesota Twins, Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, and Cleveland Guardians are all in action.

At this point, if the Jays have any hopes of making the postseason to defend their American League East pennant, they have to string together some wins and some sweeps. They’ll have a good chance to win a game on Thursday afternoon, as Dylan Cease is slated to start.

Cease, an American League Cy Young hopeful, is coming off a July that saw him win pitcher of the month. Last time out, he surrendered one earned run over six innings of work, just one of four earned runs (six runs in total) that he gave up in July. Overall, he had a 1 ERA and 2.18 FIP in 36 innings of work, with a 34.8 K% and 8.3 BB%.

He’s been a good bet to pitch at least six innings, doing so in his last five starts. And the Blue Jays’ bullpen sure needs him to go deep into this game, as they had to turn to Chase Lee to save Wednesday afternoon’s game.

Starting for the Cubs is left-handed pitcher David Peterson. The veteran is rocking a 5.52 ERA over his 101 innings pitched this season, so undoubtedly the Jays will struggle. At least Kevin Gausman doesn’t start against his former team, a team he was on less than a week ago.

With a lefty on the mound, the Blue Jays have loaded up on right-handed batters. Myles Straw, who was terrific in the series against the Astros, leads off. He’s followed by Kazuma Okamoto, Alejandro Kirk, and George Springer.

Nathan Lukes, batting fifth, is one of two left-handed batters in the lineup. He’s followed by Ernie Clement, Luis Urías, and Davis Schneider. Andrés Giménez is the other left-handed batter in the lineup, and he’s batting ninth. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is set to miss his second consecutive game.

Let’s set up Thursday afternoon’s make-up game!

Toronto Blue Jays – Dylan Cease: 7-5 record, 2.41 ERA, 119.1 IP, 174 SO, 51 BB

Chicago Cubs – David Peterson: 6-7 record, 5.52 ERA, 101 IP, 85 SO, 40 BB