The Blue Jays begin a decisive three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night, carrying a 77-79 record into the final week of the regular season and remaining within reach of the American League Wild Card race.
Toronto visits Camden Yards for the opener at 6:35 p.m. Eastern time on September 21, 2026. Right-hander Trey Yesavage is scheduled to start for the Blue Jays against Baltimore right-hander Taj Bradley, according to Major League Baseball’s official schedule. The game will be available on Sportsnet in Canada.
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Blue Jays enter final six games with little room for error
Toronto has six regular-season games remaining: three against Baltimore from September 21 to 23, followed by a three-game home series against the Cincinnati Reds from September 25 to 27, according to the Blue Jays’ official team page.
The Blue Jays are three games behind the Chicago White Sox for the American League’s third Wild Card position, while the Orioles sit five games behind Chicago. Toronto is also five games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the broader Wild Card standings, although the Blue Jays hold the relevant head-to-head tiebreaker against Cleveland. The current standings show the teams’ positions.
That leaves the Baltimore series particularly important. MLB’s playoff picture identifies the three-game set as the final opportunity for the clubs to settle their head-to-head tiebreaker. Toronto currently trails Baltimore 6-4 in the season series, meaning the Blue Jays need to gain ground immediately while also watching results involving Chicago, Cleveland and other Wild Card contenders.
Toronto carries momentum from Texas win
The Blue Jays arrive in Baltimore after beating the Texas Rangers 7-2 on Sunday. The victory gave Toronto a series win in Arlington and improved the club’s record to 4-6 over its last 10 games, as recent Blue Jays results show.
Toronto’s recent results have been uneven. The club dropped two of three games to Texas before responding in the finale, and earlier losses to the Detroit Tigers had made the Wild Card chase more difficult. Still, the Blue Jays have not been eliminated, and each remaining game now carries a direct postseason consequence.
The Orioles have also struggled to build momentum. Baltimore enters the series at 75-81 and has lost three straight games, although its 5-5 record over the last 10 games is better than Toronto’s.
What to watch in the Blue Jays series opener
Yesavage’s start is one of the key storylines for Toronto. MLB lists the right-hander with a 5-5 record and a 3.65 earned-run average entering Monday’s game. Baltimore is scheduled to counter with Bradley, who is listed at 6-15 with a 4.11 ERA.
The Blue Jays will also be monitoring the health of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. MLB’s official team page recently listed Guerrero as having exited a game against Texas with lower-back tightness. Any limitation involving Toronto’s middle-of-the-order hitter could affect the club’s ability to produce runs during the most important series of its season.
Toronto has received important contributions from younger players during the late-season push. September additions such as Sean Keys and the returning Yesavage have added depth, while other rookies have taken on larger roles as injuries and roster changes have reshaped the team, a trend followed by sports fans tracking baseball prospects.
Why the Orioles matchup matters
A series win would not automatically move Toronto into a playoff position, but it would prevent Baltimore from gaining further ground and could improve the Blue Jays’ position in a crowded American League field.
A sweep would be especially valuable. It would give Toronto the season-series advantage over Baltimore and provide the maximum possible gain during a head-to-head matchup between two teams still alive in the postseason race.
The Blue Jays must also rely on help elsewhere. Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Texas and other American League contenders remain part of the Wild Card calculation, and the final standings could depend on both overall records and head-to-head tiebreakers. MLB’s current playoff breakdown shows Toronto holding some favourable tiebreakers while losing others, making every remaining result potentially significant.
Blue Jays schedule for the final week
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 21 | Baltimore Orioles | Camden Yards | 6:35 p.m. ET |
| September 22 | Baltimore Orioles | Camden Yards | 6:35 p.m. ET |
| September 23 | Baltimore Orioles | Camden Yards | 6:35 p.m. ET |
| September 25 | Cincinnati Reds | Toronto | 7:07 p.m. ET |
| September 26 | Cincinnati Reds | Toronto | 3:07 p.m. ET |
| September 27 | Cincinnati Reds | Toronto | 3:07 p.m. ET |
For the Blue Jays, the path is straightforward even if the mathematics are not: win as many of the final six games as possible, take advantage of direct matchups and hope the teams ahead of them continue to leave openings.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the Blue Jays play the Orioles on September 21, 2026?
The game is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Eastern time at Camden Yards in Baltimore.
What is the Blue Jays’ record entering the Orioles series?
Toronto enters the series with a 77-79 record.
How many games remain in the Blue Jays’ regular season?
Toronto has six games remaining: three against Baltimore and three against Cincinnati.
Are the Blue Jays still in the playoff race?
Yes. Toronto remains within reach of the American League Wild Card, although it needs wins and help from results involving other contenders.
Who is scheduled to start for Toronto against Baltimore?
Trey Yesavage is scheduled to start for the Blue Jays, with Baltimore listing Taj Bradley as its starter.
Fact-Checked: Key schedule, standings, starting-pitcher and playoff-position details were checked against official MLB information.
Disclaimer: Starting pitchers, game times and playoff scenarios can change as the regular season progresses.