Blue Jays emerging as viable AL East contender after win over Yankees

The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees on Monday, 5-4, to move two games behind the AL East leaders. Thanks to their recent hot streak, the Blue Jays have emerged as a legitimate division contender.

Toronto was led by first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who went 2-for-4 with three RBI. Overall, Blue Jays batters were 10-of-32 (.313) at the plate, including 4-of-11 (.364) with runners in scoring position.

Since May 28, when the Blue Jays were a season-high eight games out of first place, they've gone 20-10 to trim the gap by six games. Only the Astros have more wins (21) during that span. (h/t FanGraphs)

Toronto's resurgence is even more impressive considering its coincided with a subpar stretch of pitching. In its 29 most recent games entering Monday, Blue Jays pitchers had a 4.45 ERA, 23rd in the majors.

During that same period, the Blue Jays were third in runs scored (158), an average of 5.4 runs per game. Toronto had a .278/.343/.444 team slash line, ranking in the top five in batting average, on-base average and slugging percentage. 

With the Blue Jays (46-38) finding their rhythm at the plate, they could be improved pitching away from surpassing the Yankees (48-36) and second-place Tampa Bay Rays (47-38) in the AL East standings.

Max Scherzer, making just his third start this season after battling a right thumb injury, gave Toronto reason to be hopeful its best days on the mound could be ahead of it against the Yankees. In five innings, the three-time Cy Young Award winner allowed two earned runs and three hits with seven strikeouts and no walks.

The Blue Jays need more of that from Scherzer, and the rest of the pitching staff, going forward. If so, they might have enough to climb atop the AL East.