Blue Jays balance optimism with urgency as playoff race quickens

Blue Jays are in Pittsburgh on Thursday. They are looking forward to play a game against another sub-standard opponent. The team is still struggling after a terrible August.

The Blue Jays are in the American League's third wild-card spot. They are still in a playoff spot, but they are playing some poor baseball. Their next 33 games are against teams that are either currently in or on the cusp of the playoffs. The schedule is very tough, with games against the Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays. 19 of their remaining 33 are on road. David Phelps believes the team needs to get back to playing the way it knows it can. He thinks the teams they need to beat are the ones they want to play. It's a comfort for him that they can control where they go. If they don't find some consistency, they might not make it to the postseason.

Bradley Zimmer and Casey Lawrence have been added to the Blue Jays' roster. The team is in the playoff race.