Even with the Blue Jays in the thick of pennant race in mid-August, some of the attention around the American League East leaders these days is being diverted by their triple-A farm team in Buffalo.

The Queen City has suddenly become the place to be outside of the Rogers Centre, with several Jays — George Springer, Shane Bieber and Alek Manoah — all using the Bisons as a springboard to their eventual return to the majors.

Manoah, for example, made his first rehab start in Buffalo on Wednesday for the Bisons, though it didn’t go well for the one-time ace of the Jays pitching staff and Cy Young Award finalist.

The right-hander recorded just five outs, yielding three runs on two hits, while issuing three walks, hitting a batter and recording one strikeout in a 9-4 loss to the Lehigh Valley

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