KANSAS CITY -- Pop the champagne, but keep a bottle in the fridge.

Finally, after a stretch of tough losses and some long days filled with complicated clinch scenarios, the Blue Jays have officially punched their ticket to the postseason. One celebration down, one to go.

The real party will come when the Blue Jays clinch the American League East for the first time since 2015. After Sunday afternoon's 8-5 win , they hold a 2 1/2-game lead over the Yankees (plus the tiebreaker) with six games remaining in the regular season.

Every drop of this champagne has been earned, though, by one of the most surprising teams in Blue Jays history.

Fresh off a dreadful 74-88 season a year ago, the Blue Jays’ renaissance has been stunning to witness. Even at their most generous, external projection

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