With the regular season nearing its conclusion in Major League Baseball, the Toronto Blue Jays find themselves sharing the lead in the American League East. For the first time since July 2, the New York Yankees are tied for the division lead.

The Blue Jays recently faced a defeat against the Boston Red Sox with a score of 7-1, while the Yankees secured an 8-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Notably, Yankees star Aaron Judge made history by becoming the franchise’s first player to achieve consecutive 50-homer seasons since Babe Ruth.

This shared lead is particularly significant as the Blue Jays previously boasted a commanding five-game advantage on September 16. The head-to-head record benefits the Blue Jays, who outperformed the Yankees 8-5 during their matchups this season, giving them the tie-breaker advantage in the event they finish the season even.

Both teams are now tied for the best record in the American League, which raises the stakes as the division winner could secure the No. 1 seed for the playoffs, circumventing the wild card series. The Blue Jays still have four games lined up, including a series finale against the Red Sox and a set against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees will conclude their series against the White Sox before hosting the Baltimore Orioles.