Five Jays storylines to watch as postseason looms

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BALTIMORE — It hasn’t been without its ups and downs, but this is where most loosely expected the Toronto Blue Jays to be when the season began some six months ago.

Now, with a postseason berth locked up and homefield in the opening round wild-card series looking likelier by the day, the Jays internally feel like they’re well-positioned to make a run.

Taking care of their remaining business this week in Baltimore will help further that case, as there are a number of storylines to pay attention to as the regular season winds down.

Here are five questions the Jays will have to answer this week.

1—Can they secure homefield this weekend?

With a postseason spot officially clinched a few days ago, the Jays turned their attention to homefield advantage, promptly sweeping the Boston Red Sox to take a stranglehold on the situation.

The math is pretty simple at this point.

Heading into Monday’s series opener against the Orioles, the Jays’ magic number to secure three games at the SkyDome this weekend is just two.

With Tampa Bay now out of the mix when it comes to a potential first-round roadie, the only place the Jays could head other than back home is Seattle, who hold a game in hand.

The Mariners get the 65-win Detroit Tigers at home for four games this week, including a double-header on Tuesday that may decide their first-round fate.

2—How do they line up the starting pitching for the wild-card series?

Currently, stud right-hander Alek Manoah is lined up to start Wednesday’s regular-season finale at Camden Yards, but no one actually expects him to take the ball that day.

If the Jays have their way, they’ll lock up homefield prior to Wednesday and then simply push Manoah back to Friday.

That would send Kevin