SPORTS

More work to do before Blue Jays head to playoffs

The Canadian Press Published Friday, October 2, 2015 7:54AM EDT

Baltimore Orioles' Manny Machado, bottom right, safely steals third base in front of Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Munenori Kawasaki, of Japan, and umpire D.J. Reyburn in the fourth inning of a baseball game in Baltimore, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015. (AP / Patrick Semansky)

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BALTIMORE - With the champagne drained and the cigar smoke gone, the Toronto Blue Jays say there is more work to do.

The franchise celebrated its first division title in 22 years this week in Baltimore but there's still another goal ahead before the playoffs begin.

Toronto's 6-4 loss to the Orioles yesterday combined with Kansas City's 6-4 win over the Chicago White Sox leaves the Jays and Royals deadlocked as they chase the league's best record.

But Toronto owns the tiebreaker, so if the teams finish with an even record, the Blue Jays take it.

That would give the Jays home-field advantage right through the playoffs -- including a possible World Series appearance -- thanks to the American League's win in July's all-star game in Cincinnati.

Toronto begins a three-game series, the final one of the regular season, tonight at Tampa Bay.

Securing home-field advantage means something because Rogers Centre is a place the Blue Jays feel can be intimidating for opponents.

The stadium sold out for 20 of the final 21 home games of the regular season.