The Jays have lost their grip on the AL East at the worst possible time. It was not long ago when they were looking like the favorites to close the division; however, after back-to-back losses to the Red Sox and a 6-losses-in-7-game stretch, they have tied their record with the Yankees. And now the 2 teams are standing at 90-68. Now, for the Jays, only 4 games are left, and with such a limited option, their scope for error is thin. And a certain veteran has now issued a warning amidst their recent troubles.

The current uncertainty comes after a 7-1 loss to the Red Sox on Wednesday. On that day, Garret crochet punished the Jays’ bats with 8 shutout innings. The irony is the Jays have scored just one run or fewer than that in all six of the team’s current defeats, and now, they are looking rattled as frustration spilled over. Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s ejection after hitting coach David Pokins and Max Scherzer’s winless September with giving up four runs in five innings have all set the stage for a tense sprint to the finish.

After watching all this, the Yankees veteran Clint Frazier came forward with a sharp warning that the Jays cannot ignore. Speaking with Harrison Nevel on Life After the Show, the veteran said: “Right now, one game back from the Blue Jays, it’s got to be foot on the gas. I mean, clear eyes, full heart, can’t lose mentality right now with the Yankees. And I think that the Blue Jays right now are going to be the ones that feel a little bit of pressure. So pressure does one of two things. Makes diamonds or bust pipes. So we’re going to see what the Blue Jays have at the end of this stretch.”

The former Yankees star’s message was deep, and it highlighted the distinctive playoff paths for the 2 teams. The veteran highlighted that the Jays and the Yankees have clinched a postseason spot; however, seeding and the vital rest days that come with it remain up for grabs. “Rest heading into the playoffs, you don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said. “If they sneak that first place, then they will have regular rest with a little more days on top of it. So I think it’s just going to be interesting to see.” Now, the message is clear: finishing second could force the Jays into grinding through the Wild Card, while the Yankees enjoy vital recovery time.

Frazier also highlighted the distinctiveness in each team’s schedule to close the season. “They’ve got the momentum, you know? I mean, they were down last night in the ninth inning, scored three runs… and then obviously you see that the Blue Jays lose and they’re the ones playing the Red Sox,” the former Yankees star said. “The Yankees are playing two teams that have nothing to play for. The Blue Jays… they’re facing the Red Sox, who are still trying to make sure that they punch their ticket to the wild card. So the difference in how those teams prepare and how they play… It’s going to be interesting”, he added.

For the Blue Jays, the warning could not be more on time. While Aaron Judge & Co. could benefit from softer matchups, John Schneider’s team needs to analyze the opponents, working hard to survive. Pressure, as Frazier said, will either forge the Jays into legitimate contenders or identify the gaps that have occurred in September. So, the final four games will determine whether the team enters October with power and with more concerns.

Now, that pressure is beginning to haunt the Jays, with frustration and inconsistency exposing cracks at the worst possible time.

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Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s frustration highlights the Jays offensive slide

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s ejection against the Red Sox was not just a cause of anger; it was a symbol of the frustration simmering across the team’s roster. Guerrero’s inconsistency at the plate has coincided with the team’s collapse, as the star’s .154 average over the last week has left a gap in the middle of the lineup. When the Jays’ emotional leader loses his control, it enhances the sense of urgency and highlights how fragile confidence has become at the period of this late-season skid.

Still, his slump highlights the larger concern dragging the Jays down. The team is not just dealing with missed calls and unlucky breaks; the Jays are failing to produce in the biggest moments. Opponents have identified, analyzed, and exploited Guerrero’s impatience and forced the star into chases and weakened the team’s offensive punch. To flip the script, the Jays need their star slugger to lock back in and establish the rhythm at the plate. Without Guerrero getting back his power, the head-to-head tiebreaker advantage over the Yankees could not be enough to provide the Jays with their first AL East crown in a decade.

The Jays’ path to the AL East crown is razor-thin. With

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. facing inconsistency and the Yankees surging, every game matters. The Jays need to refocus, channel their frustration, and execute at the plate to reclaim momentum.