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The next nine days probably wont determine the Toronto Blue Jays playoff fate, but the upcoming stretch of games definitely will play a role. Over the next three series, Toronto will face the East-leading Baltimore Orioles, the Central-leading Detroit Tigers and finally the Wild Card-vying Seattle Mariners. The Blue Jays can put themselves in a better position to make the postseason for the first time since 1993 with a solid record over this stretch or they could put themselves out of it entirely with a disastrous one. So the question is: How many games will the Blue Jays win over the next nine days? Baltimore Orioles (63-48) - Four games ahead of Blue Jays for first in AL East This one has been marked on Torontos calendar for quite some time. The clubs have split the first 10 games of their season series and the Jays can pull within a game of the Orioles for the division lead with a sweep. Toronto had been playing good ball until they ran into a pesky Astros squad, losing three of four in Houston over the weekend. Toronto should get a jolt to the lineup as Brett Lawrie was activated from the disabled list Monday night and is expected to get the start Tuesday in the opener. Baltimore, on the other hand, has been red-hot since the All-Star break with an impressive 11-6 record. The Orioles are also the American Leagues best road team with 33 victories away from Camden Yards so far this season. They acquired relief pitcher Andrew Miller from the Boston Red Sox on deadline day and seem to be putting things together both at the plate and on the mound. Baltimore will go with Bud Norris (8-7), Wei-Yin Chen (12-3) and Miguel Gonzalez (5-6) while Toronto will counter with Mark Buehrle (11-7), Drew Hutchison (7-9) and J.A. Happ (8-5) over the three-game set. There should be plenty of power too at the hitter-friendly Rogers Centre, as the Blue Jays and Orioles sit one-two in homers with 134 and 133, respectively. Detroit Tigers (61-48) - First place in AL Central After Baltimore, the Jays welcome to Toronto the team with arguably the best pitching staff in all of baseball. Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and now David Price lead the Tigers starting staff with each having won a Cy Young award over the last three seasons. And then theres the very formidable Anibal Sanchez and Rick Porcello, who have combined for a 21-10 record this season. The Jays will likely have to face Sanchez, Scherzer and Price over the three-game set next weekend. Detroits arms are one thing to worry about, but theyre also one of the best hitting teams in the American League. They are first in team batting average (.277 – 13 points better than the second place Los Angeles Angels), first in on-base percentage (.331) and first in slugging percentage (.435). If the Blue Jays want to be considered a legit playoff contender, taking two of three from the well-rounded Tigers would be a good step. Seattle Mariners (57-54) - Two games behind the Blue Jays for the second Wild Card spot Toronto wraps up this critical stretch out west at Safeco Field against the Mariners, who may sneak into the playoffs with a Wild Card entry, but theyve fallen off as of late, losing six of their last 10. Ace Felix Hernandez may anchor one of the leagues better pitching staffs (they lead the Majors with a 3.05 team ERA), but their hitting has left a lot to be desired. Theyre last in the American League in RBIs with 402 and second last in team batting average with .243. The Jays could possibly put the Mariners away in this series, in a place thats become a home away from home because of all the west coast fans that come down from B.C. for the games. Looking ahead, the Blue Jays will play the Orioles six times, the Mariners four times and the New York Yankees four times over the final two weeks of the season at the end of September. Those games will undoubtedly determine Torontos season if theyre able to stay in contention until then. But that is then and this is now, and the Blue Jays need to think about taking care of business in the present day. Having said that, how many games will the Jays win over this critical nine-day stretch? As always, its Your! Call. Under Armour Outlet Store . -- With his team down 16 points in the second quarter and headed for another blowout loss at home, Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson yelled out to his players to keep shooting and keep fighting on defence. Cheap Under Armour Shoes . -- Kurt Buschs Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, in some ways, was like his career wrapped into one afternoon. http://www.cheapuashoes.com/ . Gordon reportedly failed another drug test and is facing a one-year ban. Gordon led the NFL in yards receiving last season despite being suspended two games for violating the leagues substance-abuse policy. Under Armour Shoes Free Shipping .C. United to a 4-1 victory over short-handed FC Dallas on Saturday night. Cheap Under Armour Shoes China . But qualifying for her first Scotties Tournament of Hearts after years of falling short in tough Manitoba provincial championships is as good as consolation prizes get for the 29-year-old from Winnipegs Fort Rouge Curling Club.UNIONDALE, N.Y. - The New York Islanders are brimming with confidence these days, thanks to a standout goalie and a newfound winning attitude.Jaroslav Halak made 34 saves for his ninth straight win, and Cal Clutterbuck scored his third goal of the season as the Islanders earned a 3-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night.New York (17-7), which had a five-game winning streak snapped Friday at Washington, has won 12 of 14. This is the fastest the Islanders have gotten to 17 victories.Were doing some good things and we believe in ourselves, Islanders captain John Tavares said. You can see the poise and composure we have now. We just have to keep that going.Halak has been a force, going 12-4 in his first season with the Islanders.Im not thinking of how many games Ive won in the past, said Halak, who made 16 saves in a tense third period, including five during a 5-on-3 Devils power play. Im only as good as my last game.Islanders coach Jack Capuano knows how vital Halak has been to the teams success.I thought our goaltender was excellent, Capuano said. We knew that they would make a push, and we did whatever we could to withstand it. Weve had a long stretch — six games in nine days — and it showed tonight. But our goalie made the difference.Casey Cizikas, who scored an empty-net goal to seal it, agreed with his coach.Hes been unbelievable, Cizikas said. Hes kept us in games and he was such a huge part of the win.The Devils (9-11-4), beaten by Detroit in a shootout on Friday, lost their fourth straight. Damien Brunner scored his first goal since Oct. 24, and Cory Schneider made 25 saves.We played better in the second and third periods, but we didnt get the result, and thats what matters, said Schneider, who started in goal for the 23rd time in New Jerseys 24 games. We gave them everything we had down the stretch. Sometimes, you just dont get the bounce to tie things up.We played well, but its a results-based business, and were not getting the results.New York took aa 2-1 lead 3:32 into the second period when defenceman Calvin de Haan fired a wrist shot that was deflected in by Clutterbucks stick.dddddddddddd.The goal was originally given to de Haan but was changed to Clutterbuck during the second intermission.The Islanders controlled play early, and they grabbed a 1-0 lead on Nikolay Kulemins fifth goal.Kyle Okposo took a slap shot that Schneider easily stopped, but he was unaware that the puck trickled through his pads and was inches from the goal line.Kulemin got behind the defence and poked the puck past Schneider.I thought I had it, Schneider said. I didnt know it got past me.The Devils tied it 1:47 later on Brunners second of the season. Defenceman Adam Larsson fired a shot that was deflected in front by Brunner.It was a good deflection and got me to the far side, Halak said. Theres not much you can do about that.New Jersey dominated the third period, and held a 16-2 edge in shots, but couldnt net the tying goal.With nine minutes left, the Devils recorded five straight shots at Halak. The best chance came on a backhanded attempt by Michael Ryder.New Jersey then had a 5-on-3 advantage for nearly a minute toward the end of regulation, but the Islanders killed it.Capuano said that is a sign of his teams maturity.When we had to contain, we did, Capuano said. We have a different attitude, and it showed. From top to bottom, we know were not going to lose.NOTES: The Islanders honoured Hall of Fame defenceman Denis Potvin before the game. ... The Devils played without centres Adam Henrique (upper body) and Travis Zajac (lower body). Both were injured in the third period Friday. Brunner and Jordin Tootoo replaced them in the lineup. ... Devils D Eric Gelinas was a healthy scratch. The Islanders were without D Johnny Boychuk (upper body) for a second straight game. ... Islanders D Nick Leddy played in his 275th consecutive game. ... Capuano and Devils coach Pete DeBoer were teammates with Milwaukee of the IHL from 1989-91. ' ' '