Toronto's magic number to clinch a playoff berth is four, and nine to win the AL East. At 87-62 with 13 games left, the Jays hold tiebreakers over Detroit, New York and Boston, giving them a prime seed and a straightforward path to the postseason. Six home games against the Red Sox and Rays and seven on the road define a balanced finish that favors Toronto.

Texas (79-71) has 12 to play; if Toronto wins four and Texas loses the rest, both reach 91 wins, but Toronto still wins the tiebreak. New York sits four back with 13 to go, Boston 5.5 back with 12 left. The era’s new rule makes the Jays’ position clearer as they chase the division while staying mindful of their rivals’ schedules.

Yordan Alvarez returns from a fractured hand to anchor Houston’s lineup as injuries sap the Astros’ depth. Since his late-August return, Alvarez is batting .386 with 3 homers and 9 RBIs, while drawing scant strikeouts, underscoring his role as the club’s lone consistent force. Houston remains in the AL West race with Seattle and Texas, but the postseason hinges on more bats heating up; last year’s exit to Detroit serves as a stark reminder that the margin for error is thin.