Joel Sherman The MLB postseason flaw the AL’s uninspiring playoff race has exposed — and how to fix it By Joel Sherman Published Sep. 8, 2026, 7:00 a.m. ET Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates after scoring on a grand slam during the fourth inning of a game against the New York Yankees on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at Rogers Centre. Jason Szenes / New York Post You know when you have a bad rule?
When a team can finish fourth in its division and not only reach the playoffs, but have an easier road to a League Championship Series than the three teams that finish in front of it within the division.
The Blue Jays have had a generally miserable follow-up to coming as close to winning a World Series as a club can without actually winning it. But the American League depth is so woeful that Toronto still has a chance to make the postseason as the final wild card. The Blue Jays went into Labor Day at .500, but just one game back of the AL’s final playoff spot.
