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TORONTO, ON – JUNE 27 – Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) lets out a yell after getting the third out in the seventh inning as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 7-2 at Rogers Centre in Toronto. June 27, 2022. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Blue Jays’ $110M Ace Makes Strong Plea as Division Title Fate Rests in John Schneider’s Hands

Originally posted on EssentiallySports
By Sourav Kumar Ghatak | Last updated Sep 27, 2025 9:28 PM ET

Just in case you’re missing it, the AL East race has turned into a full-blown Hollywood thriller. While most divisions already have their champs locked in and playoff spots secured, things are still wide open here. And guess what, everything comes down to the final game of the regular season to decide whether it’s the Yankees or the Blue Jays who take the crown.

Well, for Toronto, this isn’t just another shot. They haven’t won the division since 2015, and now it all hinges on that last matchup against the Rays. So, if the Jays pull off a win and the Yankees stumble against the Orioles, the division title is theirs. But here’s the twist… Manager John Schneider has a tough call to make. Does he push all the chips in and go for broke in the final game, or hold back his top arms and bats to keep them fresh for October?

“It blows my mind that you play so many games and it still comes down to the last one,” said Blue Jays veteran Kevin Gausman. “In 2023 here, I went to bed thinking I was going to start the last game of the season, the Mariners lost, woke up, and Wes Parsons started the game. So, I’ve been in this spot many times before. You take it in stride.“

Well, Gausman is lined up to take the ball in Sunday’s regular-season finale, but how long he actually pitches could be a game-time decision. Because if the Blue Jays jump out to a comfortable lead, pulling him early would be the smart move, as Toronto will need its ace fresh for the postseason. Of course, winning the division also comes with the bonus of a first-round bye, so there’s plenty on the line.

However, playing Gausman on Sunday also comes with risks. MLB insider Tyler Milliken shared that the Blue Jays would miss Gausman’s service against the Red Sox in the postseason if they lose the last game against the Rays despite slating Gausman. He said, “To me, with the Blue Jays starting Gausman tomorrow… if they lose that game and you end up facing them in the 1st round, that’s a beautiful thing. No Bassitt. No Bichette either. And deflated from blowing the division. Also, Crochet has a 1.31 ERA in 3 starts against them.“

In this case, the Red Sox would have an advantage, considering the Blue Jays are already missing Chris Bassitt and Bo Bichette. And after Sunday, Gausman will also not pitch in the first round of the postseason. Hence, everything lies in Schneider’s hands as they head into the final regular-season game.

The Blue Jays’ offense is another concern for John Schneider

It’s not only the starting rotation that is causing concern for Schneider. But the Blue Jays manager also needs to get his offense straight before the postseason.

Well, figuring out what’s gone wrong for the Blue Jays’ offense lately isn’t easy. On paper, they’ve been one of the best in baseball. Just check their stats and you will wonder. The Blue Jays rank fifth in runs scored (4.90 per game), first in both BA (.266) and OBP (.334), and they’ve struck out fewer times than almost anyone else.

But wait, because September has told a different story. Their team OPS sits at .711, the lowest it’s been since a sluggish March/April stretch when they posted a .657 mark and stumbled to a 14–16 record.

So, what could be the reason behind such an unreal downfall? Missing Bo Bichette…

Reportedly, since he hit the IL with a knee injury on September 7, the Jays’ offense hasn’t looked the same. Without him, they’ve averaged just 3.8 runs per game. And now, with the Rays on deck in the regular-season finale, boasting the league’s hardest-throwing staff (average fastball velocity: 95.6 mph), Toronto’s bats are in for a serious test, both for the division race and for what lies ahead in October.

This article first appeared on EssentiallySports and was syndicated with permission.

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