Blue Jays stalking wild card playoff spot after winning two of three in Cleveland

Toronto got what they needed in Cleveland and finished things off with a 6-3 win on Thursday afternoon

Published Sep 03, 2026  •  Last updated 2 hours ago  •  3 minute read

Brandon Valenzuela and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrate the team's 6-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo by Nick Cammett /Getty Images

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Mission accomplished — for now.

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It didn’t start out that way, but the Blue Jays, after running into an unhittable pitcher in Game 1 of the biggest three-game series of their season to date, got what they needed in Cleveland and finished things off with a 6-3 win on Thursday afternoon.

They leave with two wins in the three games, which allowed them to climb to within a half-game of the wild card playoff spot they are chasing in the American League and in the process secured the season series with the Guardians, meaning a year-end tie between the two teams would see the Jays advance to the playoffs.

It’s now on to Kansas City, where the next most important series of the season begins on Friday.

Nathan Lukes of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a two-run double during the fifth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo by Nick Cammett /Getty Images

Hot day on the field, at the plate

Thursday’s day game in the 31 C heat of Cleveland wasn’t necessarily the sexiest game the Jays have played this year. It certainly felt like the longest with so many extended at-bats, pitching changes and pitching coach visits.

What the Jays did right, as unsexy as it came across, was work Cleveland pitchers for nine walks in the game with three of those walks coming around to score and accounting for half of the Jays’ scoring on the day.

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Nathan Lukes’ two-run double in that four-run fifth was the only extra base hit of the game for the Jays, who also helped themselves with a little small ball as Brett Bateman kept that four-run fifth alive with a sacrifice bunt that turned into a single thanks to his bat skills and speed.

The Jays also were benefactors of a handful of some uncharacteristically sloppy plays in the field by the Guardians.

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Catcher Austin Hedges allowed a catchable foul ball in front of the Toronto dugout to fall, allowing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. another shot at driving in a run, which he did with a sacrifice fly to deep right.

It was one of a handful of plays the normally sure-handed Guardians failed to complete in the game.

Blue Jays starter Jose Soriano didn’t stick around long enough to secure the win, departing after 4 2/3 innings and having given up all three runs that the Guardians scored.

The Jays steady bullpen, though, carried this one home for him.

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Four relievers – Mason Fluharty, Spencer Miles, Tyler Rogers and closer Louis Varland – did exactly what they have done most of this season, holding Cleveland off the board for the final 4 1/3 innings.

José Soriano of the Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo by Nick Cammett /Getty Images

Another win for Miles as bullpen shines

Miles, the Jays Rule 5 pickup this off-season who has been so valuable to the team, picked up his sixth win of the campaign with 1 1/3 innings behind Fluharty.

Rogers followed with a blanked eighth for his team-leading 30th hold of the season with Varland right behind him to lock down his 32nd save.

For the moment, the Jays held a half-game lead on both Texas and Baltimore, who are also very much in the hunt for that third American League wild card spot. Both were playing on Thursday night.

The Jays have not announced a starter for the opener in Kansas City, but barring a sudden change it should be Jameson Taillon, who is expected to make his return following a stint on the injured list with some right forearm tendinitis. Kansas City will counter with left-hander Daniel Lynch (4-4, 3.06 ERA).

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