Latest Blue Jays injury reveal could drastically affect Yankees' AL East odds

Sunday's game between the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays genuinely could've been the swing contest that determined whether or not New York had a chance to capture the East and rise up out of the Wild Card Round. While a home sweep would've put them in prime position, the difference between a series loss/four-game deficit and series win/two-game deficit was massive, given that the two teams will not play one another again during the regular season.

The Yankees held on for dear life, with David Bednar closing out a 4-3 win - a game that, notably, did not feature Bo Bichette, who was shaken up on a home plate collision with Austin Wells, but finished Saturday's game.

The Jays were mum on Bichette's status, but made a determination on Tuesday afternoon that could shift the balance of power even further after the Yankees kept themselves alive.

Bichette will hit the 10-Day Injured List, retroactive to Sept. 7, with a knee sprain suffered on the final out of the sixth inning, when Cody Bellinger's right arm came up huge. That means Bichette will miss the next several series, at least, against the Astros and Orioles at home, followed by a trip to Tampa to face the Rays.

Yankees AL East Standings: Bo Bichette injury could be worrisome for Toronto Blue Jays

Of course, the same thing we all knew before Bichette's injury still holds true. The Yankees' gauntlet schedule is only half over. They still must take down the Tigers at home and the Red Sox at Fenway to stand a chance in the East (or retain a shot at homefield advantage in their first round matchup). Starting next week, they'll also need to take care of business against the Twins, Orioles, and White Sox. Minnesota may be scuffling to figure out their motivation down the stretch, but the Orioles and White Sox (a team that's been red hot since the Yankees left Chicago) have found a nice rhythm powered by their youngsters.

Since the start of July, Bichette is hitting .372 with a .996 OPS. This means that both the Red Sox (Roman Anthony) and Blue Jays will be missing players who've served as their respective offensive catalysts at a crucial time.

The Yankees, certainly, are not at full health; they've been forced to awkwardly navigate Aaron Judge's right arm and the limitations of Giancarlo Stanton's tree-trunk legs. It's now more imperative than ever that they figure out the proper delicate balance and don't trip face-first into a more uncomfortable situation. As it stands, they may have a slightly clearer path than even the one they seemed fated to traverse before the weekend.