Urgency level high as Blue Jays look to make push for playoff spot

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was walking to the shower area in the Toronto clubhouse after a 7-3 win over Baltimore when he stopped to look at the TV screen above the stalls.

The slugger smiled as the Minnesota Twins recorded a key late-game out in an eventual 4-3 win over Cleveland, the team Toronto is chasing in the race for the final American League wild-card spot.

It's officially scoreboard-watching season and the Blue Jays are doing their share.

Saturday's results trimmed the Guardians' lead over the Blue Jays to just one game. Toronto holds the tiebreaker between the clubs, giving each matchup a must-win feel over the next fortnight.

"It's hard not to pay attention [to other games] but we're all pretty locked in here," said Toronto right-hander Dylan Cease, who'll start Sunday's rubber game against the Orioles. "I mean we know we've got to win."

Brett Bateman and Alejandro Kirk homered to power the Blue Jays to their 10th win in 16 games. Spencer Miles opened for Toronto in a bullpen game that was capped with three outs by closer Louis Varland.

The reigning American League champions improved to 74-75 with 13 games left in the regular season. All of Toronto's opponents have sub-. 500 records.

"The urgency level has been high for a while, as has stress, as has everything," said manager John Schneider. "But that's going to be the same going forward."

Bateman — who's not known for his slugging — hit his first big-league homer in the series opener. He followed it up Saturday with a blast that landed in almost the same spot over the wall in right-centre field.

"It's like Willie Mays Hayes in 'Major League 2,"' Schneider joked, referencing a movie character known more for his speed than his power. "Yesterday on a slider and