Blue Jays Clinch 2023 Playoff Spot With Mariners Loss

The Blue Jays have clinched a spot in the 2023 Major League Baseball Postseason.

Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

TORONTO — Playoff baseball is back on the menu.

The Blue Jays don't know where they're going or who they'll play in October, but they know the Toronto Blue Jays will be part of the postseason dance. Toronto clinched a playoff spot with the Mariners' loss to the Rangers on Saturday night.

The Blue Jays will either head to Tampa Bay to face off against the Rays or travel to Minnesota with a matchup against the Twins in the Wild Card round.

The clinch didn't come on the Blue Jays' own terms, as Toronto fell to the Rays during an afternoon game at Rogers Centre. However, it was only natural that the rollercoaster that was the Blue Jays' regular season came to a climactic end in some unforeseen way.

That's been the story of the 2023 Blue Jays in general. At various points there was despair and elation, teetering back and forth between the two extremes for 162 (really 161) games before falling into the postseason.

The Jays entered 2023 with divisional aspirations and high expectations. They may have fallen short on those so far this season, but the only real goal still remains without their grasp. The Jays punched a ticket to the postseason on Saturday night, and that grants them access to the World Series tournament. Next week, in the Wild Card round, the 2023 Blue Jays will begin that title hunt.

Who Will The Blue Jays Play In The Playoffs?

While Toronto's spot in the postseason picture is secure, it's still to be determined who and where they will play. If the Diamondbacks beat the Astros in Game 162 on Sunday, the Jays will head to Tampa Bay to face the Rays. Toronto can also match up with Tampa with a Blue Jays win paired with a Texas win over Seattle.

If the Blue Jays lose and the Astros beat the Diamondbacks, the Jays will head to Minnesota to face the Twins. Also, if the Mariners beat the Rangers and the Jays and Astros both win, the Jays will also slide to the WC3 seed and face the Twins.