September baseball is underway, and the Toronto Blue Jays kick off the final month with a three-game road series against the Cincinnati Reds on Labor Day.
The Jays and Reds will be televised on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+, with Blue Jays Central starting coverage at 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT, followed by first pitch at 1:10 p.m. ET / 10:10 a.m. PT.
Toronto owns a strong position as September opens. The Blue Jays sit at 79-58, holding a three-game lead over the New York Yankees (76-61) and a 3.5-game edge on the Boston Red Sox (76-62) in the American League East. They’re also a half-game behind the Detroit Tigers (80-58) for the AL’s top record, with the league’s top two teams earning byes into the ALDS.
Chris Bassitt will get the ball for Toronto, aiming to start September on a high note after a steadier August in which he went 11-7 with a 4.14 ERA, striking out 27 over 27 innings. He’ll oppose Reds rookie Hunter Greene, a flamethrower who’s returned from injury and struck out 21 in 17.1 August innings over three starts.
Toronto closed August on a positive note with an 8-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, a game that helped stabilize a bullpen that had been a concern over recent weeks. In the days ahead, the relief corps received a boost as rosters expanded from 26 to 28 players. The Blue Jays brought up right-hander Dillon Tate, who had previously appeared for Toronto in early 2024, to bolster the relief group, and veteran infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa, claimed on waivers from the Pirates, joined the team.
Kiner-Falefa is a familiar face to Jays fans, having spent the first half of 2024 in Toronto before being traded to Pittsburgh. He hit .292 with seven homers during his time with the Blue Jays last season, and his return provides infield depth and a contact option off the bench.
Why this matters now
– With September on the horizon and a tight division race, Toronto will lean on improved bullpen depth and reliable starting pitching to maintain its lead.
– The top two teams in each league earning byes into the ALDS adds extra motivation for the Jays to secure as many wins as possible in the final stretch.
– The addition of Tate and Kiner-Falefa gives manager flexibility for both games and late-inning matchups, especially in a month where roster depth becomes a critical asset.
Summary
The Blue Jays head into September aiming to build on their October hopes by starting with a win in Cincinnati. With Bassitt toeing the rubber against Greene and a reinvigorated bullpen, Toronto looks to translate August’s late momentum into a strong start to the month and to strengthen its playoff positioning as the sprint to October continues.
Positive takeaway
Toronto’s improved bullpen performance, combined with strategic roster additions, offers optimism that the club can navigate a demanding September schedule while maintaining its spot atop the division and pursuing the league’s best record.