**Blue Jays Await Outcome of Yankees-Red Sox Wild-Card Series** The Toronto Blue Jays are closely monitoring the ongoing wild-card series between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. The best-of-three series is tied, and the outcome will determine who the Blue Jays face in the first round of the playoffs. As the Blue Jays prepare at home, the Yankees and Red Sox are set to play a decisive third game in the Bronx. This matchup is crucial, as the winner will advance to Toronto for a best-of-five American League Division Series starting Saturday afternoon. The Blue Jays are hoping for a lengthy game that could extend into extra innings. If the Red Sox win, the first pitch on Saturday will be at 1:08 p.m. If the Yankees prevail, the game will start at 4:08 p.m. Game 2 on Sunday is scheduled for 4:08 p.m., regardless of the opponent. The Blue Jays could benefit from the wear and tear on the pitchers of the winning team. The intensity of a three-game series can be taxing, especially if the final game is tightly contested. Additionally, the start time for the Yankees-Red Sox game has been pushed back to 8:08 p.m. to accommodate ESPN's prime-time schedule. This change means the winning team will face a late-night or early-morning flight to Toronto, where they must attend a mandatory workout and media session on Friday afternoon. The Blue Jays will have a full roster of fresh pitchers ready for the playoffs. This situation is advantageous as they await their opponent. The AL East playoff bracket is highly competitive, and the Blue Jays will face a division rival in the postseason for the first time in franchise history. Toronto General Manager Ross Atkins noted the challenges of competing in the AL East. "It’s hard to win more than you lose in the AL East and (the Jays) have done it more than most teams," he said. "Over the last five years, we’ve won more than anybody but the Yankees. That’s not enough, but it’s a lot of winning for this core that has mostly been together." The rivalry between the Red Sox and Yankees adds another layer of excitement. Historically, the Red Sox have won their last three postseason meetings against the Yankees, including the 2021 wild-card game and the 2018 ALDS. In the regular season, the Blue Jays performed well against both teams, finishing with an 8-5 record against each. This record against the Yankees was particularly significant, as it served as the tiebreaker for the division title. As the Blue Jays watch the series unfold, Manager John Schneider emphasized the importance of analyzing the competition. "There’s always a few things that you try to highlight, a few things that you try to look at a little bit more carefully," he said. Schneider is focused on how the teams make strategic moves and adjustments during the playoffs. He added, "Good teams that get to this point make adjustments and they know that teams are familiar with them. So there’s usually a wrinkle thrown in there in some way." The Blue Jays may also consider making roster adjustments based on the matchup specifics of the advancing team. As the wild-card series continues, the Blue Jays remain poised to capitalize on the outcome, ready to face their opponent in the next round of the playoffs.