The set-up: The Toronto Blue Jays lost 8-1 Wednesday afternoon and are now just 3-9 in September. The Jays have not only fallen out of first-place in the AL East but they are now one game back of the Orioles for the No. 1 wild card spot, while leading the Tigers by only one game for the final wild card spot. Plus, Seattle is just 1 1/2 games back of Toronto, the NY Yankees only two games back and the Astros sit 3 1/2 games back. Toronto is clearing reeling and any number of teams have a chance to ‘steal' the team's playoff spot. The Blue Jays travel cross-country to open a four-game series against the 63-82 LA Angels. The Angels open the series having lost six of their last seven games, after scoring just two runs while suffering a three-game sweep at the hands of the red-hot Seattle Mariners (Seattle owns MLB's longest current win streak at eight in a row).

The pitching matchup: J.A. Happ (18-4, 3.33 ERA) takes the mound for Toronto, up against the Angels' Daniel Wright (0-2, 7.50 ERA). Happ has turned out to be Toronto's "accidental ace" in 2016. He opened the year with a career record of 62-61, with his best-ever season coming back in 2009 with the Phillies, when he went 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA. Happ won 11 consecutive decisions from June 11 to August 17 and only Boston's Rick Porcello has more wins in 2016 than Happ's 18. Daniel Wright was acquired off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds back on September 4 and makes his second start for the Angels. He's made five appearances in 2016 (three starts) and along with his ‘ugly' 7.50 ERA, his WHIP is 1.89 and opponents have batted .388 against him.

The pick: Toronto is reeling and the fact that Happ is 0-5 with a 7.83 ERA in his career vs the Angels, has to be a concern. However, Happ is a different pitcher than in any of his previous seasons in 2016 plus it's hard to make a case that Wright is a "ready for primetime" pitcher. Wright has three starts in 2106 and his team is 0-3. Make that 0-4, making Toronto is an 8* play.