Enemy Lines

Written off for 2010 after the Roy Halladay trade, the Blue Jays were 26--20 through Sunday and sat 1½ games out of the AL's wild-card slot. A comeback season from Vernon Wells and surprising starts by journeymen Jose Bautista, Alex Gonzalez(below) and John Buck have pushed them to third in the league in runs scored. The schedule allows for skepticism, though. The Jays have played just eight games against the Rays, Red Sox and Twins, going 3--6, while beating up the AL's bottom dwellers. Now they will be tested with a brutal June: a nine-game stretch against Tampa Bay and the Yankees followed by an interleague slate that includes no sub-.500 teams. If the Jays can sustain their performance over the next four weeks, then it will be time to take them seriously.

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JOHN GRESS/REUTERS