The Toronto Blue Jays are gearing up for a crucial stretch in their season with 30 games remaining on their schedule. They kick off this pivotal period by facing the Kansas City Royals at home on Tuesday night.

Currently, the Blue Jays are trailing the Cleveland Guardians by two games in the race for the final American League wild-card spot. Their upcoming schedule includes six consecutive home games at Rogers Centre before embarking on a challenging road trip consisting of nine games in nine days.

In the wild-card race, the Houston Astros are closely trailing the Guardians, who are on a five-game winning streak. The Texas Rangers recently claimed the top spot in the AL West, while the Minnesota Twins, who defeated the Athletics 9-6 in their last game, are tied with the Blue Jays, both teams trailing the Guardians by two games.

Other teams in contention for a wild-card spot include the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, and Detroit Tigers. In the upcoming game, the Blue Jays will have veteran right-hander Max Scherzer on the mound, facing off against the Royals’ right-hander Seth Lugo.

Following the series against the Royals, the Blue Jays will host the Mariners for a three-game weekend series. The Mariners are just one game behind the Blue Jays in the standings.

Despite a recent series loss to the Yankees, the Blue Jays have been performing well, winning 13 out of their last 22 games. They are now entering a phase of their schedule with no games against teams above a .500 winning percentage. Their remaining opponents collectively have a winning percentage of .464, with 18 games against direct wild-card competitors. Additionally, half of the Blue Jays’ final 30 games will take place at Rogers Centre.