How They Got There: Blue Jays

Dec. 23, 2022: Daulton Varsho deal This made it official: The Blue Jays were rebranding, chasing pitching and defense over an all-offense approach

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April 23, 2023: Vladdy owns NYC With boos raining down after Guerrero said he’d never play for the Yanks, Vladdy homered in a tense win

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May 12, 2023: Bassitt’s shutout The Blue Jays’ first nine-inning shutout since Mark Buehrle’s (2015) solidified Chris Bassitt as Toronto’s workhorse

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May 23, 2023: 20-run onslaught Vladimir Guerrero Jr. capped this off with a grand slam off a position player, and it was a loud reminder of this club’s ceiling

June 6, 2023: Alek Manoah optioned A stunning headline just over two months after Manoah (6.36 ERA at the time) was the Blue Jays’ Opening Day starter

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July 11, 2023: Vladdy wins HR Derby Building on his record-setting performance from 2019, many hoped Guerrero’s win would spark a big second half

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July 30, 2023: The Jordan Hicks deal Adding the best relief arm on the market took the Blue Jays’ bullpen from good to great

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Aug. 1, 2023: Return of Hyun Jin Ryu The veteran nailed his Tommy John recovery and returned just in time to save the back end of this rotation

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Aug. 4, 2023: Schneider’s grand debut One weekend, 9 hits, 2 home runs. Davis Schneider became a cult hero and fan favorite almost overnight

Sept. 1, 2023: Chad Green’s return The already great bullpen gets another accomplished veteran in Green, just in time for the October push

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Sept. 14, 2023: Trouble looms Swept in 4 games in the biggest series of their season vs. the Rangers, this was a true low point for the Blue Jays

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Sept. 17, 2023: 1st of back-to-back walk-offs Matt Chapman’s heroics officially put the Blue Jays back on track with a major series win coming off the sweep to Texas

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Sept. 24, 2023: Huge series win over Rays They beat the Rays at their own game and put themselves on a clear path to the postseason

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Sept 30, 2023: Blue Jays clinch Despite losing to the Rays in extra innings, the Blue Jays punched their ticket in the evening after the Mariners lost to the Rangers

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Oct. 1, 2023: Time to party Toronto clinched its spot late on Sept. 30 but saved the celebration for after Game 162