The Toronto Blue Jays have locked up the top seed in the American League after surviving the league’s toughest division. Now, they’re waiting on the winner of the Boston Red Sox–New York Yankees Wild Card matchup — meaning either way, they’ll open the ALDS against a familiar foe.

Boston drew first blood with a Game 1 win behind a dominant outing from Garrett Crochet, who struck out 11 in 7.2 innings before the bullpen shut things down. That puts the Red Sox one win away from moving on, but the Yankees still have a chance to rally at home.

So, who should Toronto want to face?

Against Boston:

• Blue Jays went 8-5 in the season series but struggled at the plate, hitting just .224 with limited power.

• The Red Sox pitching staff is built for tight, low-scoring games — exactly the kind of matchup Toronto doesn’t want.

• To beat Boston, the Jays would need to win on the mound, not with their bats.

Against New York:

• Toronto also went 8-5 vs. the Yankees but hit much better, posting a .263 average with 70 runs scored.

• The Yankees’ pitching gave Toronto more room to work, though the Jays’ own staff was shakier, allowing over a homer per game.

• A high-scoring series favors Toronto, and New York’s bullpen is far weaker than Boston’s.

The Verdict:
If the Blue Jays want the smoothest path to the ALCS, they should be rooting for the Yankees. New York’s pitching is more vulnerable, which plays into Toronto’s biggest strength — their offense.