Without a doubt, for most of the month, it’s been hard to argue that the Toronto Blue Jays have been a class apart in the American League. They are on top of the AL standings and building their momentum every time they on the stadium. They are giving a game that their fans have been waiting for a long time. On Sunday, too, they put on a world-class game, taking Baltimore 11-2. It was a horror show for the Orioles and for the Jays, just another tick mark in the many wins.

Shane Bieber dealt six innings of one-run ball, and George Springer kept his momentum alive with his 29th homer. This was not just another win for the Toronto Blue Jays; it was their MLB-best 46th comeback victory of the season. Plus, add in all that excitement of top prospect Trey Yesavage making it for his debut—an icing on the cake.

Manager of the team, John Schneider, couldn’t help but express, “You appreciate the hell out of it. Because these guys work really hard for it, and it’s nice to feel in lockstep with your fanbase. When it is like this, you have to enjoy it.” The Jays will enter the penultimate week ahead of New York by at least three games. So on paper, they are AL’s best team, right? But not everyone thinks so.

Jolly Olive bluntly feels it’s the Seattle Mariners, who wear the crown as the best team in the AL. “I mean, it’s hard to argue against it when they’re playing to their potential and and right now they are, because it starts with the way we’ve identified them before. It’s their starting pitching powerhouse team, and you’re finally starting to see that come to fruition in this final month. But it’s also on top of that, you know, Cal Raleigh has returned to form, and he has an OPS near a thousand in September. But it no longer feels like a one-man show. There are contributors all throughout this lineup.”

And honestly, out west, the Mariners have been rewriting their own story this September. They have a nine-game winning streak, and their recent four-game sweep of the Angels was a chef’s kiss. It vaulted them into first place in the AL West—and it’s their first serious shot at a division crown in a long time—2001, to be specific. They do not look like the biggest threat to AL supremacy. And their biggest weapon may be their confidence—the clubhouse has the vibe that is in line with not just the division crown but the rings.

Catcher Cal Raleigh, who is in the race with Judge for MVP, said, “We’ve got the pieces to do it. We’ve got the pitching, the defense, and the deep lineup to do it. We’ve got guys that have been here before. I have a lot of confidence in the rest of the clubhouse. We’ve been playing loose; we’ve been playing free, which is good to see. And it’s just continuing to do that.” So definitely, the 2.2 billion rival is a major threat to the Blue Jays. But actually, Jays have a lot more on their plate.

Toronto Blue Jays face a $500M question!

The Toronto Blue Jays have been staring down October still with immense confidence. They are happy for what’s to come because their franchise star, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., is locked in with a $500 million extension. But while the champagne for them might be chilling now, the front office is preparing itself for some rough winter decisions.

This is because several faces could be on their way out—and no, not just Bo Bichette. Chris Bassitt and Seranthony Dominguez also have free agency looming. Plus, it is not just the lineup depth that’s in question because the drama starts with the rotation too. This is where two Cy Young winners—Max Scherzer and Shane Bieber—are both in the picture.

When the Toronto Blue Jays got Bieber at the trade deadline, it felt like a peek at what the future is going to be like. Jay’s Journal’s Edward Eng also predicted that the move was a trial run—a perfect chance for Toronto to line up Bieber as a replacement for Scherzer. And it’s hard not to see why. Because as good as Scherzer has been, injuries have eaten away at his game. He had just 19 starts in 2023 and nine in 2024, and for a team that has championship ambitions, that’s a gamble they might not be willing to keep doing.

Bieber, of course, isn’t without risk himself. The 2020 Cy Young winner has only made seven starts over the last two years, and he will be 31 next season. But for sure, compared to Scherzer, Bieber’s arm still has less wear. Now it depends on who the team decides to bet on.