Spencer Jones’ homer helps Yankees top Blue Jays — and inch toward top of AL East

· New York Post

It is possible that Ryan McMahon’s injured list trip, which prompted a possibly short-lived call-up of Max Schuemann, solved the Yankees’ upcoming roster crunch.

If Cody Bellinger is activated Sunday as expected, Schuemann likely would be heading back to the minors, and Spencer Jones probably would remain a major leaguer.

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The Yankees likely will see more of Jones, who is demonstrating why that notion is increasingly appealing.

A top prospect with major intrigue and major risk seems to be getting more comfortable with every at-bat.

Yes, there are strikeouts, which has long been the concern, but there are also the eye-popping tools, a ceiling rivaled by the Guggenheim and monster swings.

One of those swings — a ferocious hack that sent a pitch to the sky, down the right field line and eventually to the second deck — made the difference in a 3-1, series-opening Yankees victory over the Blue Jays in The Bronx in front of 45,062, who witnessed the Yankees creep a game closer to the division lead.

On the backs of Jones’ two-run homer, solid work from Cam Schlittler and a typically excellent bullpen performance, the Yankees (73-55) closed to within three games of the Rays, the closest the two have been since Aug. 2.

“It’s wide open. Feel like it was wide open last year,” Schlittler said after somehow allowing just one run in six innings without his top stuff or command. “We got a lot of opportunities to win the division [last year]. I think we still got a lot of opportunities to win the division this year.

“I think we got to chase those goals.”

The Yankees have won five straight mostly through continued pitching excellence — Schlittler, Brent Headrick and Paul Blackburn pitching out of jams and David Bednar recording his 30th save kept the trend going — but also with the beginnings of life from their offense, which only needs to have a pulse to win games these days.

Spencer Jones hits a two-run home run during the second inning of the Yankees’ 3-1 win over the Blue Jays on Aug. 21, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post

And when Jones connects, the Yankees have life.

In the second inning of a scoreless game, Jones turned on an inside cutter from Spencer Arrighetti and demolished a pitch whose height was far more interesting than its distance.

Still, it no doubt had enough distance — enough that Jones remained in the batter’s box for several seconds as he stared more in curiosity than admiration to see if it was a go-ahead home run or a foul ball.

Cam Schlittler throws a pitch in the first inning of the Yankees’ win over the Blue Jays. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“It’s our week for that,” went through Aaron Boone’s mind, the manager said with a smile, after the Yankees benefited Wednesday from Pete Alonso’s skyscraper being ruled foul.

Jones kept staring, jogged halfway down the first base line and still did not have much clarity as the ball landed an estimated 385 feet away.

First base umpire Dan Iassogna dramatically signaled the ball was fair, and Jones allowed himself a smile.

After a replay review confirmed the call, the Yankees allowed themselves a two-run edge that would not be threatened and Jones had a second home run in as many games.

“That’s maybe the highest one I’ve ever hit,” said Jones, who is up to seven homers in the majors and has knocked 86 in his minor league career.

The 25-year-old rookie has volleyed up and down from the minors to the majors this season, and each trip to The Bronx has brought an added level of comfort to Jones’ at-bats.

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After his 1-for-3 night, Jones is 18-for-73 (.247) with five homers, a triple, three doubles, 13 RBIs and six steals in his past 21 games, spiking his season OPS from .645 to .731.

“He’s been adaptable,” Boone said of Jones, who reminded of his tools both with a strong throw to third to prevent Jesús Sánchez from tagging up in the eighth and with a nearly remarkable grab that he couldn’t corral in the seventh, which instead went for a Brett Bateman triple. “The experience he’s gaining, I feel like it is very valuable, and he’s applying it well every day.”

The Yankees added an insurance run in the fourth when Jones’ pal, George Lombard Jr., singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a Jones ground out and scored on a José Caballero sacrifice fly.

On Players’ Weekend, Jones wore a belt with Ben Rice’s face on it. Lombard’s featured Jones’ smiling mug. Jones thought it was “hilarious.”

“I think the young guys that we have here are extremely close,” Jones said after one of the Yankees’ young guys brought the club a bit closer to the Rays.