Toronto opened September with a 5-4 loss at Cincinnati after rallying to take the lead in the ninth, only to see the bullpen stumble again. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. started a one-run top of the ninth with a bunt single, Bo Bichette delivered a towering four-hit day including a go-ahead homer, and Alejandro Kirk added an RBI hit. But the relievers couldn’t hold, leaving Toronto to chase a tighter AL East picture as Boston and New York press the margin.

Manager John Schneider signaled bullpen reshuffles ahead of the final stretch, hinting that rookie arms Braydon Fisher, Mason Fluharty and Ryan Borucki could eat more late-inning innings while closer usage remains unsettled. September’s stakes are high as the Jays try to fend off tightening rivals and keep pace down the stretch.

Toronto’s late lead evaporated in a brutal ninth, as Cincinnati stormed back to win 5-4. Hunter Greene dazzled over 6.1 innings for the Reds, allowing just one earned run with seven Ks, while Chris Bassitt held the Reds to two runs in six frames. Bo Bichette slapped a four-for-four day, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. started the scoring, and Daulton Varsho unloaded a game-changing homer to prop the Jays to a two-run edge before the bullpen collapse sealed the loss.

Around the Jays, Alejandro Kirk delivered the RBI single to bring Bo home, Yariel Rodríguez bridged two clean innings of relief, and Toronto’s offense finally woke with timely hits. The blown save spotlights the thin bullpen, leaving fantasy managers eyeing Joseph Berríos’ next start against Lodolo for a swing in momentum and workload expectations.

Noelvi Marte capped Cincinnati’s comeback with a walk-off two-run single, erasing a ninth-inning Jays rally that began with Bo Bichette’s two-run homer and Daulton Varsho’s multi-hit night. Toronto’s bullpen meltdown and a rare lodged-ball call fueled the Reds’ late surge, turning a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 win. The result tightens Toronto’s AL East lead while keeping Cincinnati’s wild-card hopes alive as the playoff picture widens.

Sal Stewart debuted for Cincinnati, injecting youth and upside into CIN's lineup as Hunter Greene delivered a playoff-caliber start. In the ninth, Emilio Pagán yielded back-to-back homers to Bo Bichette and Daulton Varsho, flipping a 2-1 Reds edge into a 4-2 Toronto advantage. The night underscored CIN's growing prospect depth and Jays' late-inning power, offering fantasy angles on a fresh rookie’s impact, a dominant young starter, and closing-risk in late innings.

Toronto activated Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Dillon Tate for September's opener vs Cincinnati, adding depth as the Jays push for a playoff spot. Kiner-Falefa joined from Pittsburgh via waiver, providing infield/outfield versatility; Tate was added to the MLB roster to help the bullpen. Nick Sandlin moved to the 60-day IL in a corresponding shift, reshaping Toronto's late-season relief corps.

These moves underscore Toronto's plan to maximize matchups and rest options in a tight AL race, with IKF offering multi-position value and Tate boosting bullpen depth. The trio signals a proactive approach to the final stretch, reinforcing depth for a critical October push.