Blue Jays in good shape in tough division after 1st quarter of season complete

A .600 winning percentage would be good for a first-place position in two of the six divisions in Major League Baseball. It's not even close to top spot in the powerhouse American League East.

The Toronto Blue Jays took a solid 24-16 record into Monday's game against the New York Yankees but were closer to the division basement than first place.

"We're in a good spot but we haven't really fired on all cylinders pretty consistently," said Blue Jays manager John Schneider.

Toronto's last four series have been sweeps. The Blue Jays lost four straight in Boston, won three in Pittsburgh, lost a two-game miniseries in Philadelphia then returned home to win three against Atlanta.

"I feel very good about the position that we're in given how many games we've played on the road to date," said Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins. "I really feel like there's still some upside in our overall team performance but [we] have weathered a difficult stint thus far very well.

"I feel like we're in a strong position."

Toronto entered the opener of the four-game series against the visiting Yankees with a stellar 12-3 home record. The Blue Jays own a pedestrian 12-13 mark away from Rogers Centre.

If the season were to end Monday, the Blue Jays would have the second wild-card position in the American League.

"I think [we] like where we are and there's a lot of room for improvement still," Schneider said in a pre-game media availability. "I think just in terms of being consistent in all phases of the game.

"I think that individual performances are good and some guys individually are going to be a little bit better than they are now."

WATCH l Blue Jays' Kiermaier tosses kid his batting gloves after hitting two-run triple:

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