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Four key series for the Blue Jays in August

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The Toronto Blue Jays have a rather challenging month of August ahead. The 31 days following the trade deadline will serve as a litmus test for how tenacious and gritty the team really is. Toronto must also prove it can successfully defend its division lead against the surging Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.

August brings a lineup of playoff-calibre opponents for the Blue Jays. Below are four important series that could determine the team’s postseason fate:

Toronto Blue Jays at Los Angeles Dodgers (Aug. 8–10)

The Los Angeles Dodgers were widely regarded as MLB’s best team heading into the 2025 season. While they experienced a rough stretch around the All-Star break, they’ve largely lived up to their lofty reputation, even amid brief bouts of mediocrity. The Dodgers still hold a relatively comfortable lead in the NL West and boast a star-studded roster.

A lineup that features Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw, Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith, Blake Snell, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto is a nightmare for any opponent. Add to that their effective usage of role players like Tommy Edman, Teoscar Hernández, Andy Pages, and Michael Conforto, and it becomes clear why they’re the defending World Series champions.

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Oh, and Ohtani is back to being a two-way player, which makes this series even more compelling.

This three-game stretch will be one of the most star-studded matchups—at least from the Dodgers’ side—and a critical test for the Blue Jays. Can Toronto take the series from one of baseball’s elite teams? The Blue Jays have never swept the Dodgers in franchise history—this may be their best chance yet.

Chicago Cubs at Toronto Blue Jays (Aug. 12–14)

The Chicago Cubs had underwhelmed in recent years, but everything changed in 2025. They’ve emerged as legitimate contenders in the NL Central and have held the division lead for several weeks, asserting themselves as a team to watch this postseason.

A key to their resurgence has been their deep lineup, featuring Michael Busch, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, Carson Kelly, Seiya Suzuki, Dansby Swanson, and Kyle Tucker. On the mound, the rotation and bullpen—highlighted by Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Shota Imanaga, Brad Keller, Daniel Palencia, and Caleb Thielbar—have kept opposing offenses in check.

Toronto has already had trouble with the Cubs in recent seasons, and this current version of the team is even stronger. The Cubs added versatile infielder Willi Castro, dependable reliever Andrew Kittredge, underrated lefty Taylor Rogers, and long reliever Michael Soroka at the deadline—each complementing their already solid core.

This series, sandwiched between the Dodgers and Rangers matchups, will test the Blue Jays’ endurance and depth. It’s a pivotal moment in their month-long gauntlet.

Texas Rangers at Toronto Blue Jays (Aug. 15–17)

The Texas Rangers have fought their way back into playoff contention and, as of August 2, were just one game behind the Seattle Mariners for the final AL Wild Card spot. Their early-season offensive struggles are in the rearview mirror, and the team has begun to find its rhythm.

Corey Seager has led the charge, while contributors like Sam Haggerty, Kyle Higashioka, Wyatt Langford, and Josh Smith have provided timely offense. Young stars like Evan Carter and Josh Jung have also performed well, further solidifying the lineup.

However, the real strength of the Rangers lies in their starting rotation. Nate Eovaldi, Tyler Mahle, and Jacob deGrom have formed a formidable trio. Patrick Corbin has also revived his career in Arlington. At the trade deadline, Texas bolstered its pitching staff by acquiring Danny Coulombe, Merrill Kelly, and Phil Maton.

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Scoring runs against this group will be a tough task for the Blue Jays. Earlier this season at Globe Life Field, Toronto eked out a series win despite low offensive output. Will they find a way to do it again at home?

Milwaukee Brewers at Toronto Blue Jays (Aug. 29–31)

If someone had predicted the Milwaukee Brewers would hold the best record in baseball, most fans would’ve laughed. But here we are—Milwaukee has defied expectations and risen to the top of MLB.

Despite trading away Corbin Burnes, the Brewers’ pitching staff hasn’t missed a beat. Freddy Peralta, Jose Quintana, Chad Patrick, Quinton Priester, and Brandon Woodruff have impressed, while rookie sensation Jacob Misiorowski has taken the league by storm and earned All-Star honours. The Jays might not have to contend with Misiorowski, who just landed on the IL, but he could return in time.

On offense, Jackson Chourio has provided much-needed support for Christian Yelich. Depth hitters like Isaac Collins, Caleb Durbin, Sal Frelick, Blake Perkins, and Andrew Vaughn have stepped up, proving the value of a balanced lineup. Additionally, the Brewers have been a menace on the basepaths, ranking second in stolen bases behind only the Rays.

If the Blue Jays maintain their position atop the AL standings, this series could be a showdown between the best teams in both leagues. In many ways, the Brewers mirror the Blue Jays: role-player-heavy lineups and disciplined baseball, but with superior pitching.

This final series of the month could be an electric playoff preview.

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