Postseason FAQ: What's next for Blue Jays? 

TORONTO -- Kings of the American League East for the first time since 2015, the Blue Jays can finally exhale for a moment and enjoy their bye.

The American League Division Series awaits, with the Yankees and Red Sox facing off in a fantastic AL Wild Card Series matchup for the right to fly north to Toronto.

Here’s everything you’ll need to know entering the postseason, updated daily:

What could the postseason roster look like?

C: Alejandro Kirk, Tyler Heineman
1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
2B: Ernie Clement, Isiah Kiner-Falefa
SS: Andrés Giménez
3B: Addison Barger, Ernie Clement
OF: Daulton Varsho, Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, Davis Schneider, Anthony Santander
DH: George Springer
SP: Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage, Max Scherzer
RP: Jeff Hoffman, Seranthony Domínguez, Louis Varland, Yariel Rodríguez, Brendon Little, Tommy Nance, Braydon Fisher, Mason Fluharty, Eric Lauer

Who will the Blue Jays face?
Either the Red Sox or the Yankees, so there will be plenty of familiarity in the eventual ALDS. The Blue Jays will be the No. 1 seed in the AL, too, so they would also hold home-field advantage in a potential ALCS. You can keep an eye on how that picture unfolds in real time with our MLB Postseason Watch.

How will the Blue Jays’ rotation line up?
Now that the Blue Jays have the luxury of the bye, they can line up their rotation exactly how they want. This is a huge advantage when facing a team coming off of a best-of-three Wild Card Series.

In Game 1, expect Kevin Gausman, the staff ace who, outside of a tough one in Game 162, has played some of his best baseball lately. Shane Bieber would make sense in Game 2, and Trey Yesavage, the incredible rookie, has already made a fine case for Game 3. It’s Game 4 where this could get interesting, with Max Scherzer still a tantalizing option given his track record, but he’s struggled through September. Chris Bassitt should be back by then, too, after dealing with lower back inflammation, so the Blue Jays will soon have a decision to make.

What about the other starting pitchers?
This could potentially turn into a situation where a couple of starters are made available out of the bullpen in the early games while the Blue Jays keep their options open … or at least hold their cards close to the vest.

José Berríos just hit the IL for the first time in his 10-year MLB career with right elbow inflammation, so his season is likely over. Eric Lauer, who was bumped to the bullpen a month ago despite an excellent year in the rotation, has given the Blue Jays some great performances of late and could be a key piece of the postseason bullpen if the club decides it would like a multi-inning option.

Which position players are on the bubble?
Anthony Santander was initially the wild card of the group, but he returned in time to play down the stretch and is expected to be part of the postseason roster. So much depends on Bo Bichette, who is still rehabbing from his left knee sprain and wouldn’t have been available for a Wild Card Series. So, the ALDS can be considered a big, glaring "TBD" for the time being.

Joey Loperfido and Ty France (10-day IL, left oblique inflammation) could be under consideration, too, but the Blue Jays will need some clarity on Bichette’s status before that picture can take shape.

What gives the Blue Jays their best shot to win the World Series?
If this is going to happen, the Blue Jays need to play their own brand of baseball, which is built on elite defense, an all-hands-on-deck approach to offense and pitching that’s solid. This is what’s gotten them to the top of the American League, and now is not the time to call an audible.

Looking down the road at a potential ALCS and World Series, though, the Blue Jays need star power. The Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies and Padres have plenty, and if one player takes over a game, that can flip a series in an instant. The Blue Jays will need that eventually, which is why this postseason run is begging for one of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Bichette to have their first big October moment … or George Springer to have another.