The Blue Jays are back at .500 for the first time since June, one game from a wild card spot.

Toronto roughed up the Royals 9-2 Friday night, winning six of their last seven games to reach 71-71.

They're now just one game back of the Guardians for the third and final wild-card spot, holding the tiebreaker over Cleveland if it comes down to that.

This is the first time Toronto has been .500 since sitting at 39-39 on June 22, according to ESPN.

A win Saturday would push them above .500 for the first time since April 3.

It's been that kind of year, marked by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s regression and injuries hitting nearly every corner of the roster.

In a mediocre American League, a hot team doesn't need to be a great one. Right now, Toronto is exactly that.

Why Friday's win came with a mixed pitching outcome

Guerrero, Myles Straw, Alejandro Kirk, and Ernie Clement all had multi-hit games in the win.

Clement's night included his 30th double of the season, also his 40th extra-base hit, putting him into exclusive company among second basemen in franchise history.

The pitching plan worked out, even if the details weren't clean. Jameson Taillon started fresh off the IL but lasted just two innings.

He appears headed back to the injured list with an elbow issue, a tough turn after such a short return.

Michael Lorenzen covered the final three innings and picked up the save, part of an effective bullpen game around Taillon's short outing.

Saturday brings Max Scherzer against Seth Lugo at 7:10 p.m. ET. Scherzer is 2-7 with a 6.16 ERA on the season but is coming off a 10-strikeout gem against the Mariners.

Lugo has struggled too, sitting at 6-8 with a 5.03 ERA for a Royals team at 63-79 overall.

Cleveland hosts Detroit at 6:10 p.m. ET, with Framber Valdez opposing Parker Messick, who's 11-8 with a sharp 2.46 ERA.

Every scoreboard-watching detail matters now, with Toronto this close to climbing back into a playoff position for the second straight season.