In baseball, tables turn in a matter of games. The New York Yankees were looking like a mess, losing games, and in a bad stretch, and here they are now. Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees have been on a tear, and the timing couldn’t be better. They have won five of their last six games, and that speaks to the momentum this team has been having. And their three or four wins over Baltimore made one thing sure—the division title might not be out of reach.

Sure, across the AL, the plot is ticking, and Toronto is in control of the AL East. But here is the thing: the Yankees are only two games back. So, the pinstripes can catch the Toronto Blue Jays for sure. Although that’s the last thing they would want, as they are, after a long time, on the way to breaking the 10-year curse of not winning the division title. The last time it happened was 2015—so it’s been a decade!

But right now, it all comes down to scheduling. The New York Yankees have to face the less threatening teams. They have six games left: three against the White Sox and three against Baltimore. And all at home, hence making this schedule tailored for a late-season charge. But it’s not the same for Toronto. The Blue Jays’ path to the division crown is tougher. And hence, insiders are warning them about what could happen.

Locked On Yankees podcast host said, “Blue Jays, Red Sox—that’s in Toronto. It starts on Tuesday, a three-game series. Why is that huge? Well, the Yankees still have a chance to catch Toronto if the Red Sox can beat them. The Yankees have a two-game lead, but if Toronto is able to beat Boston, the Yankees’ lead will only be extended even further in the AL wild card spot. The Yankees could still win the American League East. That is absolutely massive. It’s a key series to look into.” And well, he isn’t lying; Toronto is not going to face a cakewalk series coming up.

They face the Red Sox starting Tuesday, and then they play the Tampa Bay Rays. Now you might say, “Toronto has been great.” And yes, they have—no wonder they are the team who have already made it to the playoff spot. However, discounting even Tampa would be foolish; they are still a .500 team, aren’t they? So, any hiccup in these two series, and the New York Yankees can catch them to get the division title.

Right now, the Toronto Blue Jays, according to FanGraphs, have an 86.2% chance to win the division. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees have a 13.7% chance, and on paper, the difference appears huge, but a loss there and a win here can alter the balance. And the Yanks have become the hottest team heading into October. They have a sharpened bullpen, improved starting pitching, and offensive depth that scares teams.

But all hope is not lost for the Toronto Blue Jays, because they have one major advantage heading into the final week.

The one edge that could help the Toronto Blue Jays win the division crown

“The job is not finished,” Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said after Sunday’s win in Kansas City. George Springer also sounded confident, saying, “Our team understands who we are. We understand who we are offensively… Everything is still right in front of us.” And indeed, there is a mountain in front of them. The job at hand is they retain the nearly 100 straight days they have sat atop the AL East. Locking that first place won’t be another banner; it could define their postseason. And after straight wild card exits that ended in flat, joyless sweeps, Jays know the cost of leaving things unfinished. This year, they want it to be different. And the way they can do it is through Rogers Centers.

This is where the Jays open a six-game home-stand against the Red Sox and the Rays. And here is the kicker—this team does phenomenal at home; they transform. The numbers back it up. They have gone 50-25 at Rogers Centre this season, the best mark in the history of the franchise. Compare that to their 40-41 record when on the road, and the stakes couldn’t be clearer. If the Toronto Blue Jays want to survive, then they need this home-field advantage.

And since August, Rogers Centre has been packed with energy that was probably last seen in 2015. The renovations have turned the stadium into a modern fortress, and given that they have a smaller crowd capacity, it only means louder crowds. Hence, it is no surprise that the Jays perform like another team when under their own roof. Now the math is simple—the Jays’ magic number is four. So any combo of Jays wins and Yankees losses can get it done. So, do you think the Blue Jays can finish what they started, or will the New York Yankees swoop in and take the title? Let us know!