Perhaps the most critical series of the AL East race this season will take place this weekend when the New York Yankees host the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays for three games at Yankee Stadium. Toronto is atop the AL East with a three-game lead over the Yankees. The Yankees will try to close that gap this weekend.
Here are the AL East standings:
Toronto Blue Jays: 81-59
New York Yankees: 78-62 (3 GB)
Boston Red Sox : 78-63 (3 ½ GB)
Tampa Bay Rays : 71-69 (10 GB)
Baltimore Orioles : 64-76 (17 GB)
The Yankees (and Red Sox) are comfortably in wild card position. This is not a "win the division or you will miss the postseason" situation. That said, winning the division likely comes with a Wild Card Series bye. Winning the division and skipping a round is greatly prefera