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Yankees stay alive in big win over Blue Jays

The Blue Jays were in New York tonight to take on the Yankees.

The Blue Jays could eliminate the Yankees tonight with a win. For their part, after two setbacks in Toronto, the Bombardiers were trying to avoid the sweep and stay alive.

It started strong for the Blue Jays, who sent Davis Schneider on base via a walk. And guess who hit a two-run home run later?

That’s right: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He hates the Yankees, and it shows.

But before long, the Yankees decided to get on the scoreboard. The Blue Jays thought they had ended the first inning, but Isiah Kiner-Falefa made an error on a routine play.

The result? Instead of seeing Shane Bieber end the inning with less than 10 strikeouts, the Blue Jays pitcher allowed Giancarlo Stanton to bring home Aaron Judge.

Thereafter, the Blue Jays continued to send runners to the paths, causing Carlos Rodon to accumulate pitches at a slightly too high rate.

45 shots in two innings is too many.

It should be noted that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. received the Aaron Judge treatment in the third inning: an intentional walk with a runner on second.

But the rest of the lineup got the ball rolling: Davis Schneider took advantage of an ordinary play in the Yankees’ outfield to run home and make it 3-1.

Later, Ernie Clement (who had a good game) pushed a ball into the outfield. Vladdy took a good risk by challenging Cody Bellinger’s arm… and it paid off: his aggressiveness made it 4-1.

And of course, he did his Superman dive again. #Wow

It wasn’t over yet as veteran Anthony Santander, recovering from an injury-plagued season, went 6-1 via a big hit. He had two points produced.

That ended Rodon’s game after just seven outs.

That said, the Yankees had by no means said their last word. In the third inning, the home team scored two runs. Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton were the run producers.

And after just 2.2 innings, Shane Bieber left. He had given up three runs and left two runners on the trails, who didn’t score. Not ideal before a potential bullpen day the next day, you say?

And soon, the Blue Jays bullpen was acting up.

With the game 6-3, Aaron Judge hit an important three-run homer to bring everyone back to square one… a little after an Addison Barger defensive error. He had a good series, Judge, but no signature moment. Now that’s done.

At this point, it was 10pm and the fourth inning had just ended. No one was about to go to bed. #Cadran

After that, Louis Varland continued his ugly outing. After his home run to Judge, he let Jazz Chisholm Jr. cross home plate via a long ball. He made it 7-6 for his team. And Austin Wells, against Braydon Fisher, made it 8-6 – before getting pinned at second base.

That made it seven points in a row for the Yankees, who were also pulled up by their bullpen. It was 6-1, at one point.

The Yankees made it 9-6 when Aaron Judge spun from first to third via a funny Anthony Santander play in right field… and the captain ended up coming home on a sacrifice fly.

So the Yankees got their hands on a big win that keeps them alive. The Bombardiers and Blue Jays will cross swords tomorrow night in the Bronx on the heels of game #4.

It’s going to be quite a duel between the Blue Jays’ reliever bullpen and Cam Schlittler, who has done well recently, but did poorly against the Blue Jays earlier in the regular season.

PMLB
  • Clint Frazier attended the game.

  • Americans disrespected the Canadiens national anthem.

  • Sick.

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Mariners crush Tigers and are one win away from the Final Four

The Mariners and Tigers faced off in Detroit tonight. The game was scheduled for 4pm, but the weather meant the duel started at 7pm instead.

The game started just one hour before the Blue Jays and Yankees. Less visibility, you say?

The Mariners struck first. In the third inning, the Tigers kind of forgot how to play defense, which opened the door to the game’s first run.

It wasn’t smart. And when Randy Arozarena made it 2-0 on the next hit, it didn’t exactly help the Tigers’ cause.

But the Mariners didn’t stop there. Eugenio Suarez slammed a solo home run… and a little later, it was Cal Raleigh who joined the party via a point produced.

He did so against the reliever, but it was Jack Flaherty who had brought in the runner who scored on base.

Although Logan Gilbert brought traffic to the paths in the fifth inning (the Tigers even brought a run to the plate in the process), the Mariners pitcher was in control. He ended up pitching six innings.

And J.P. Crawford gave the Mariners an even bigger lead with a home run that made it 5-1… and with a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

It was Cal Raleigh, the Mariners’ 2025 star, who put the final nail in the Tigers’ coffin. In the ninth, he hit a two-run homer that made it 8-1.

The Tigers gave the Mariners a run for their money, but the Mariners won 8-4.

The Mariners now lead their division series 2-1. They can eliminate the Tigers tomorrow – and ensure that the championship series in the American will be tough on travel.

Stay tuned.

PMLB
  • Official: Roki Sasaki is Dodgers closer .

  • A name to watch in New York this winter.

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Kevin Gausman: a possibility for tomorrow’s game

Tonight, the Blue Jays take on the Yankees in New York. The Toronto club’s goal will be to sweep the series.

If there is a sweep, the Blue Jays can wait patiently for the championship series to begin. But if the Bombardiers win tonight, it won’t be so simple.

Why do I say that? Because tomorrow, in the event of game #4, the Blue Jays will have a bullpen day. We’re talking about a day dominated by the bullpen, with no real starters.

That’s why a win tonight is so important.

That said, if the Blue Jays were to play tomorrow, they could look for help in other ways. How? By putting Kevin Gausman in the game.

According to Andy Martino, the Blue Jays pitcher has postponed his regular bullpen session between starts until tomorrow.

In other words, if the Blue Jays win tonight, Gausman will do his session tomorrow in preparation for Game 1 of the championship series on Sunday. His preparation won’t change too much.

And if the Blue Jays lose? The pitcher could replace his bullpen session with a short outing (two innings, for example) during Game #4, in order to help the club’s relievers.

This would be a risk, since Gausman is better at pitching with more rest than not enough. But in Toronto, we’d rather think about getting Gausman out than not.

And that makes sense… especially for a short outing.

In such a case, Trey Yesavage could pitch the next game, be it Game #5 against the Yankees (potentially Friday) or even the first game of the championship series (Sunday).

So, in other words, the Blue Jays are giving themselves options.

PMLB
  • Tigers vs Mariners: today’s game will start at 7pm… if all goes well.

  • The Blue Jays believe in Shane Bieber.

  • Davis Schneider wants to “sweat out” Carlos Rodon. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. should know, having had success against the Yankees starter.

  • Not easy, playing in Philly when it’s bad.

  • Rays: plan is to have a new stadium in 2029.

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MLB in brief: Aaron Boone responds to Buck Martinez

Aaron Boone responds to Buck Martinez

Before Game #1, the Yankees manager told Buck Martinez he didn’t like his hair. Remember that this season, the Blue Jays analyst said the Yankees didn’t have a good club.

Big Papi is ready

He wants to see the Yankees lose.

Here are today’s lineups.

Corey Seager is a father

Great news.

Andrew McCutchen back with the Pirates?

Nothing less certain.

Game #3, as in the regular season

A.J. Hinch is going to give Jack Flaherty a run for his money… because he doesn’t have the backup to do otherwise.

Weather permitting, here are today’s lineups.

Bryan Woo hasn’t started pitching from a mound again

It’s not going well.

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Yankees: in the event of a sweep, Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman must leave

Brian Cashman’s tenure with the New York Yankees dates back to 1986. He has been general manager since 1998, and has helped build the rosters of the last five Bomber World Series-winning teams. After the 2022 season, the Yankees gave Cashman a four-year contract extension that runs until 2026.

Aaron Boone, meanwhile, is in his eighth season as Yankees manager. New York removed him from the ESPN studios after firing Joe Girardi at the end of the 2017 season. With the skipper at the helm, the Yankees missed the playoffs only once, in 2023.

But the club’s World Series drought still remains. And should the New York outfit be swept by the Toronto Blue Jays, a change of air will have to be brought to the Bronx.

But with, among other things, the Yankees giving Boone a two-year contract extension until 2027 before this season, we can expect nothing to change under the New York sun.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com also believes this, having spoken with Brian Kenny on MLB Network.

Aaron Boone has to go. Brian Cashman has to go. Neither will happen. They could lose 14-0 tonight (Tuesday) and neither of those things would happen. I think Cashman and Boone are on the same level. Cashman has the manager he wants. He’s signed on for two more years. I don’t think Hal Steinbrenner is going to say, ‘Here’s several million dollars to go work for a TV station’.

Certainly, there will be a lot of pressure in New York for both protagonists’ heads to roll if the Yankees were to get knocked out of the playoff picture in the Division Series.

But don’t count on it.

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Red Sox to be aggressive around Garrett Hook

Despite early prospects this campaign, the Boston Red Sox fell in the first round of the playoffs, largely due to Roman Anthony’s injury and their inaction at the trade deadline.

But things could be different this winter.

Indeed, at the end-of-season press conference, baseball boss Craig Breslow stated that the Bas Rouges will be aggressive in surrounding Garrett Crochet in the rotation, who led them to their only victory at the fall dance, and Brayan Bello, who held down the fort in 2025.

We need to find ways to improve the team, and that could take many forms. Every team gets better if you can bring in a starting pitcher or develop a starting pitcher who could pitch at Garrett Hook’s level, you have to do it. We’ll be as aggressive as we can while making sure we do everything we can to develop our players internally.

Let’s just say that the name implied here is Joe Ryan. Last July, the Red Sox attempted to bolster their rotation by acquiring the starter from the Minnesota Twins, and their failure in negotiations proved costly.

The Twins may now try to right their wrongs over the winter.

Ryan had a somewhat chaotic end to the season, but still finished with a 3.42 earned-run average and 194 strikeouts in 171 innings of work, plus a 4.5 bWAR.

He has two years left on his contract, and although at 29 he’s a little older than Hook, he’d be an ideal candidate for the Sox.

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Phillies: two controversial decisions by manager Rob Thomson

As we all know, during the playoffs, managers are under the microscope. And let’s just say that the skipper of the Philadelphia Phillies didn’t have a good night last night (Monday).

It all started when Teoscar Hernandez hit a single and Freddie Freeman followed with a double in the top of the seventh inning against Jesus Luzardo, who was still on the mound.

Thomson then turned to Orion Kerkering to avoid catastrophe, a dubious choice on the part of the Philadelphia manager. Kerkering’s weakness was his inability to prevent inherited runners from scoring. Indeed, the right-hander has allowed 56% of his inherited runners to cross home plate since May 29, and 44% of them this season. The league average this year was 32%.

What had to happen happened, as Kerkering once again struggled, resulting in a three-run outburst from the Los Angeles Dodgers under his guidance. Already trailing 1-0 in the series, it was perhaps time for Thomson to bring in closer Jhoan Duran to limit the damage.

However, the Phillies rallied to trail by a single run in the bottom of the ninth inning with Nick Castellanos on second and no outs.

The Phillies manager then asked Bryson Stott to bunt, and even though Stott put the ball in play, the Dodgers managed to retire Castellanos at third base. Los Angeles then got the final two outs of the game in the next three appearances and cruised to a 4-3 victory, giving them a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five Division Series.

After the game, Thomson tried to justify himself without much conviction.

Left-handed against left-handed, we were trying to even the score. I liked where our bullpen was at, compared to theirs.

Note that the Phillies were then without Kerkering, Matt Strahm, Tanner Banks and Duran at this point in the game, while meanwhile the Dodgers still had Roki Sasaki, Tanner Scott, Anthony Banda and Tyler Glasnow available.

This defeat brings the Phillies’ total number of losses in their last eight playoff games to seven. The Phillies’ manager is certainly to blame for much of the team’s failure.

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Brewers one win away from eliminating Cubs

Two years ago, the Chicago Cubs offered Craig Counsell the big bucks to come and get the Chicago Cubs out of their rebuild. He said yes.

And right now in Milwaukee, people must be thinking he made an ugly decision.

Why do I say that? Because the Cubs (who put all their eggs in one basket with Kyle Tucker this season) really aren’t up to snuff in this division series.

After disposing of the Padres (who shot themselves in the foot more than anything else) on the heels of their best-of-second series, the Cubs are absolutely incapable of taking it to the next level against the mighty Brewers.

Yes, the Cubs took a 3-0 lead yesterday in Milwaukee’s first inning, but the club didn’t score again in Game #2. The Brewers, on the other hand, had fun.

Soon, Pat Murphy’s men responded with a three-run home run in the first… with a solo home run in the third… and with a three-run home run in the fourth. It ended 7-3… and the relatively out-of-shape Jackson Chourio contributed to the party.

It’s rare for the Brewers to show this much power. But yesterday, they found a way to show that they really are better than the Cubs in this series.

Jacob Misiorowski pitched three fine innings in relief and gave up nothing in terms of runs.

This means that three of the four divisional series could end in Game #3, including the series between the Blue Jays and the Yankees. Tonight, it’s the American clubs who play.

In the Nationals (where it’s off today), the Cubs and Phillies are on the brink. And so are my predictions, for what it’s worth.

MLB
PMLB
  • Aaron Nola, starting Game #3.

  • Phillies need to play as a team.

  • Roki Sasaki is a good closer in the playoffs.

  • Blue Jays player salary projections.

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Dodgers push Phillies to the brink

After yesterday’s two duels in the American series, it was the turn of the Nationals to get back into action this evening. The evening began with the second game of the series between the Phillies and Dodgers.

The Dodgers were trying to push the Phillies to the brink… just before heading to Los Angeles.

For the occasion, we were treated to a duel between Jesus Luzardo and Blake Snell on the mound. And clearly, the two left-handers were in fine form: they each allowed just one small hit in the first six innings of the match.

Snell allowed a little traffic on the paths in the sixth… but Miguel Rojas was there to save his pitcher.

However, in the seventh inning, the Dodgers began to show their teeth. Teoscar Hernandez and Freddie Freeman went to the paths, and Kiké Hernandez came to bat to face reliever Orion Kerkering.

He put the ball in play, and following a close play, Hernandez scored his team’s first run.

Then, still in the seventh inning, Will Smith came to bat with the bases loaded…

And he produced two more runs.

The Phillies then brought in left-hander Matt Strahm to face Shohei Ohtani… but Ohtani still had the upper hand: he produced his team’s fourth run.

Once again, the Phillies’ reliever failed.

The Phillies struck back in the eighth inning, however, as reliever Emmett Sheehan allowed a couple of batters to reach the paths.

And Trea Turner allowed the Phillies to score their first run of the game.

However, Sheehan got the better of Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper to avoid a meltdown in the eighth.

In the ninth inning, Blake Treinen came to the mound… and even before the first out, the Phillies had two runners in scoring position.

And Nick Castellanos drove them in. Suddenly, the Dodgers’ lead was just one run… and Castellanos was on the second cushion.

Alex Vesia then came into the game to try to put out the fire… and he did: the Phillies were unable to tie the game.

Roki Sasaki came on to get the last out of the game. And he can thank Freddie Freeman.

The Dodgers win 4-3 and take a 2-0 lead in the series, just before heading home.

The defending champions will now have two opportunities to eliminate the Phillies in California. Game #3 of the series takes place on Wednesday evening.

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Yankees must maximize Aaron Judge window

Nothing’s going right in New York these days on the sports front. Yesterday, all three Big Apple clubs in action suffered defeat. We’re talking about the Jets and Giants in football, and of course the Yankees in sports.

The latter found themselves on the back foot in a heavy defeat and will face elimination at home on Tuesday. The players have to give more, everyone without exception, including Aaron Judge. The New York superstar looks out of place against Vladimir Guerrero Jr, the opposing club’s superstar.

But if the Yankees are in the playoffs, it’s largely thanks to the prowess of number 99. He’s potentially heading for a third MVP title in four years, and he’s carrying the club on his shoulders.

Having said that, we all tend to forget that he started his career late, but Judge will be 34 next April. Like most people, he’s not getting any younger, and one day he’ll hit the wall. New York has an undeniable duty to maximize the championship window Judge affords them!

The window in New York never closes, but Judge’s does

Love them or hate them, the Yankees will always be competitive, year after year. They’re not afraid to break out the checkbook to attract free agents and even overpay to acquire the big names. Almost every player dreams of sporting the legendary cap once worn by the likes of Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle, to name but a few.

That said, Judge is one of the best athletes in the game right now, and top management has a duty to do everything in its power to win while he provides fans with such great baseball. This is where we see how the loss of Juan Soto to their New York rivals particularly hurts. For one season, he was an incredible 1-2 punch and the two made it to the World Series together! On the other hand, you can’t blame Brian Cashman and his crew for not doing everything in their power to retain Soto’s services.

Another point to consider is the risk of injury. If Judge gets injured, what other player on the team will step up to fill his absence? He is so important to his club that New York almost scrapped its season if the injury that affected him this summer was more serious than expected. The names of Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham were circulating on the transaction market. That says it all!

A blend of youth and experience

The Yankees have some good young players in their line-up and even in their affiliates. Pitcher Cam Schlittler is the new flavor of the month, and he’s only 24 years old. Ditto for outfielder Spencer Jones, one of the organization’s brightest prospects. On the other side of the spectrum, Gerrit Cole will be 35 in 2026, coming back from major surgery. Giancarlo Stanton will be 36. It will take more than adding veterans like Paul Goldschmidt and his 37 years to enable Judge to win a first World Series.

Time is slowly running out in New York.

PMLB
  • Jackson Chourio in the line-up tonight.

  • Finalists for the Hank Aaron Award.

  • Shohei Ohtani: Game #5 starter, if needed.

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