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MLB in brief: Bo Bichette still not running | Carlos Narvaez to undergo surgery

Bo Bichette still not racing

And Jose Berrios hasn’t started running again.

Harrison Bader, not starting tonight

He can come off the bench. He still has a sore groin.

Carlos Narvaez to undergo knee surgery

He’s been good to finish the year.

Trey Yesavage in tears as he talks about his family’s impact

He was emotional yesterday.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. just wants to win.

Difficult to play shortstop

Andres Gimenez finds it taxing on his body.

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In the shadows, the Blue Jays’ new generation worries

Yesterday, the Blue Jays won against the Yankees.

Trey Yesavage was excellent, as you know. He was removed after 5.1 innings of work to limit his workload and to keep some of the element of surprise about him.

It was the right thing to do, in my opinion… but it exposed the reliever’s flaws.

We know that the Blue Jays have a few relievers who are doing well, but yesterday was a festival of mediocre relievers who gave the Bombardiers’ hitters wings.

And therein lies the problem.

This lunchtime, colleague Sébastien Berrouard wrote that if any club could come back from a 0-2 deficit, it was the Yankees. And yesterday afternoon, the Blue Jays gave them the confidence to do it.

Instead of the Yankees thinking they couldn’t do anything about it, the Blue Jays let their opponents score seven runs. Normally, seven points is excellent and wins games.

So now, the Yankees are a little more confident, and they have a plan for tomorrow: get Shane Bieber out of the game quickly so it’s not just the Louis Varland and Jeff Hoffman of this world who are pitching.

If they win that and wear out the Blue Jays bullpen in the process, they’ll face a bullpen day for game #4. And from there, anything is possible.

Of course, there’s also a world where Shane Bieber is doing a good job, the Blue Jays’ forward is rising and the Toronto club continues to have the Bombardiers’ number, on track for a sweep.

But the Blue Jays shouldn’t take the Yankees lightly.

Note that today, there was an optional practice in New York and all the Blue Jays guys showed up. It just goes to show that a lot of the guys in this club understand business.

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To beat the Blue Jays, the Yankees will have to beat history

After suffering two humiliations against the Toronto Blue Jays in the Division Series, the New York Yankees have a day off to regroup before the next three duels, if we go there, as they now face elimination sooner than expected.

Because, let’s just say, they’ll have to beat the odds over the next few days. In fact, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, if the Bronx representatives manage to get back into this series and win, they’ll be joining a select club.

In the Division Series with the current 2-2-1 format, teams that win games number one and number two at home have advanced 31 times out of 34 (91.2%), including 20 sweeps. The most recent comeback in both situations came in 2017, when the Yankees beat Cleveland.

So, barring a miracle, the carrots seem to be cooked for the Yankees. However, if there’s one team that can accomplish this feat of arms, it’s the Bombardiers.

And why? Because, firstly, they were the last team to achieve this feat in 2017.

Secondly, they’ve already overcome a six-and-a-half-game deficit behind the Blue Jays in the American East this season, and not even in two weeks.

What’s more, the Yankees managed to become the first team in the short history of the Wild Card format to come back from a Game 1 loss and win the series.

Admittedly, asking for perfection over three games against this seemingly untouchable Blue Jays forward is probably too much for the New York outfit. But on the other hand, the pressure never seems to be too much for the Yankees’ players, and Torontonians shouldn’t rest on their laurels either.

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Only one thing can save the Yankees, says David Ortiz

Much to David Ortiz’s delight, the New York Yankees are backed into a corner, having suffered two heartfelt beatings at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays and are trailing 2-0 in their Division Series.

And speaking to Derek Jeter after the Bombardiers’ second crushing defeat, the Boston Red Sox legend took advantage of a wide-open door.

I love you so much, but the only chance the Yankees have is if you, Mo (Mariano Rivera), Andy (Pettitte) and A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez) come back and play. Reggie Jackson, Babe Ruth, all the rest! Joe DiMaggio, Roger Maris.

And true to form, Ortiz didn’t stop there when Rodriguez asked him if he agreed that the Yankees might have had a better chance of winning if Max Fried had given a better performance on the mound.

They could bring Jesus back, and they’re still going to Cancun. It’s all over. It’s all over. This Toronto Blue Jays team doesn’t play for fun.

That’s right, the Bronx representatives will have to be perfect in their next three games if they hope not to be forced to go sip mojitos in Mexico.

And it’s going to happen on the mound, starting with Carlos Rodon and Cam Schlittler. In fact, in a rare moment when Big Papi praised the Yankees, the young pitcher was at the heart of the lyrical outburst.

The first game I saw him pitch, I thought, ‘They’ve got another ace.’ He’s got it, bro. He’s got it. He’s got it.

Before we can find out just how much Schlittler has it, as Ortiz says, the Yankees will have to win a first game in this series tomorrow (Tuesday) at Yankee Stadium.

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Jorge Polanco hits two home runs against Tarik Skubal: Mariners win

Let’s just say that the series between the Mariners and Tigers is tighter than the one between the Blue Jays and Yankees.

After the Tigers won Game #1 by a score of 3-2, last night the home team managed to level the series with a 3-2 victory.

How did the Mariners manage to beat Tarik Skubal?

The Tigers pitcher was excellent in seven innings of work, but gave up two runs. And those two runs were hit by Jorge Polanco, who hit two solo home runs against the league’s best pitcher.

Spencer Torkelson tied the game with a single (a two-run double) in the top of the eighth, but Julio Rodriguez drove in Cal Raleigh moments later.

That made the difference and gave the Mariners a home series win for the first time since 2001.

This series will not be easy to win for the Tigers, who have lost their start with Tarik Skubal. That said, the club is coming home to roost and has proven itself capable of winning ball games without its #1 pitcher in recent days.

However, as the series progresses, the Mariners’ depth on the mound could make the difference.

PMLB
  • Brett Phillips retires.

  • George Springer knows nothing will be easy.

  • Blue Jays to follow Vladdy.

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Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: a first series grand slam in club history

The Blue Jays saw Trey Yesavage pitch like a champion today. A star was born.

Even though the reliever flinched (was Trey Yesavage removed too quickly?), the Blue Jays had built a significant lead in the game. This won the game 13-7 at home and ensured that the Yankees would face elimination.

And among those who helped provide a healthy lead was Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

The Blue Jays star, who signed a $500 million contract just a few months ago, today hit the first playoff grand slam in franchise history. Nothing less.

Making it 9-0, Junior hit a sure-fire hit that made the difference. And considering the end of the game, it was more important than expected for the Blue Jays.

But above all, Vladdy made sure to make the difference for his club when he needed to. That’s something he’d been criticized for in his first three playoff appearances, and in key moments of his career.

Six hits in two days? Two home runs? Six points produced? Three runs scored? Yes, yes, yes… and yes.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stood up at just the right moment and the crowd appreciated it. We saw that the crowd was very vocal for its star, who isn’t going anywhere for the next few years.

The Blue Jays had been unsuccessful in the playoffs in the past. But now, without Bo Bichette, the club is on a roll that leaves no one in the country indifferent.

Will that translate to New York, in the stadium of a “bad team” according to Buck Martinez? That remains to be seen. The next generation will have to rise to the occasion…

PMLB
  • Aaron Judge often puts the ball in a safe place in the 2025 series: he leads the league. But he needs to limit mistakes in the playoffs.

  • Daulton Varsho: five hits of more than one goal in two days.

  • Well done.

  • Juan Soto brags about being on vacation.

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Trey Yesavage makes Blue Jays history: an incredible performance

This afternoon, the Blue Jays hosted the Yankees in Game #2 of their division series.

For the occasion, rookie Trey Yesavage was sent to the mound to try and give the Blue Jays a 2-0 lead in the series, which is a 2-of-3.

And let’s just say it went more than well. In his first three innings, for example, he conceded a free pass to Aaron Judge, but otherwise nobody got on base. And Yesavage had seven Ks after three innings. #Wow

Meanwhile, Ernie Clement’s two-run home run gave his pitcher a run for his money.

You could feel that Max Fried, who wasn’t in an ideal position, wanted to win. His fastball was gaining a bit of velocity… but that didn’t stop the Blue Jays from sending traffic to the paths.

Davis Schneider got on base with a walk in the third, was pushed to third base by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and ended up scoring on a pop-up by Alejandro Kirk.

Then Daulton Varsho (with his second double of the game) drove in Vladdy to make it 4-0 in the third inning. Ernie Clement made it 5-0 right after that, which put the Rogers Centre in a bit of a mood. Just a little.

Meanwhile, Trey Yesavage continued to destroy the Yankees. After four innings, he had no less than 10 strikeouts, which is completely insane – and a franchise record.

Obviously, the surprise effect (and the absence of Trajekt, a tool available at home only to see a pitcher’s tendencies, for the Yankees) comes into play, but the guy is… really strong. No one can take that away from him.

A young guy who’s just as ready for the playoffs… makes you think of Ivan Demidov in Montreal in terms of hype?

Cam Schlittler opened New York’s eyes this week (and rightly so), but Yesavage just reminded us that he’s not the only quality young player to watch in the playoffs.

In fact, 10 strikeouts in four playoff innings is a playoff all-time record. Patrick Corbin did the same in 2019.

While Yesavage became the fifth pitcher aged 22 or under in history to have at least 10 strikeouts or more in a game, Max Fried left in the top of the fourth inning. That put pressure on the reliever.

And it resulted in this, from Vladimir. Yes, the guy hates the Yankees!

Daulton Varsho made it 11-0 with another home run (in the fourth inning, the Blue Jays had pretty much already won the game) and George Springer added to it by making it 12-0.

This took the pressure off Yesavage.

The Blue Jays removed him after 5.1 innings (and 78 pitches) without a run or a hit, a question of managing his workload in 2025 in general. With rest tomorrow and the score, it wasn’t a bad decision on the Blue Jays’ part with the rookie, who has never pitched so much in a season.

A star is born.

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MLB in brief: Josh Naylor will play tonight | Addison Barger’s arm

Josh Naylor will play tonight

His wife could give birth at any moment.

Roki Sasaki, the closer?

Dave Roberts didn’t call him either, but…

In Los Angeles, the Dodgers have named Tyler Glasnow as a possible Game #4 pitcher.

Mariners vs. Tarik Skubal

They have some success against him.

Nick Hundley in San Francisco?

Buster Posey’s former assistant catcher could become the club’s manager.

Addison Barger’s arm

Wow.

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What if Alex Bregman is too expensive for the Red Sox?

It’s amazing how one year can change everything.

Last year, the teams that talked to Alex Bregman, who was free as a bird, didn’t want to give him a long-term contract. Many clubs felt he was asking for too many years.

In fact, I often said that if he were to sign long-term, he might be (apart from Juan Soto, who signed a contract in another stratosphere) the guy whose contract would age the least.

But in the end, he signed a short-term deal in Boston, where he was excellent. He even pushed Rafael Devers – despite himself – out of town.

Right now, every Red Sox fan wants to see the Red Sox take a portion of the money that was earmarked for Devers to make Bregman, a player who should be out of contract this winter, a long-term member of the Red Sox.

Because yes, he’s expected to become a free agent in a few weeks.

But behind these negotiating levers in favor of Scott Boras (Bregman’s agent), the fact remains that right now, the Red Sox may have the same doubts as last winter regarding a long-term contract with the veteran, who was significant in 2025.

According to Chris Cotillo, who covers the Red Sox, we shouldn’t necessarily be surprised to see the Red Sox being more cautious than we might think in the matter… and therefore not giving Bregman as much as he hopes.

In other words? Don’t think his return to the city is just a formality.

It’s true that Bregman could age badly, as we thought a year ago. His many weeks on the injured list in 2025 are an excellent reminder of this.

Even though he’s been excellent on the pitch and incredible for the club’s culture, especially the way he’s surrounded the club’s youngsters, fans have to worry: will he go elsewhere?

I imagine people in Detroit must be dreaming just as much about Bregman (who has a connection to A.J. Hinch) as they did last winter.

In the end, I think the Red Sox will understand the player’s importance to the organization’s youth and will find a way to keep him in town for several years. No matter what the price.

And if that doesn’t happen, the owner will be called cheap… and Rafael Devers’ fans will say he was traded for nothing.

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Luke Weaver explains the reason for his failure

With the score 2-1 in favor of the Toronto Blue Jays in the seventh inning of Game 1 of the Division Series, New York Yankees reliever Luke Weaver opened the locks, taking away any chance the Bombardiers had of completing a comeback.

After allowing two earned runs without recording an out in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox, which ultimately ended in defeat for the Yankees, Weaver was once again destroyed by the opposing offense.

At the end of the game, the 32-year-old reflected on his failings.

There are a lot of internal factors. I don’t want to dwell on it too much, but there were some adjustments I had to make. The adjustment period is quite late and things just don’t line up. I don’t really feel like myself. I don’t feel like I’ve got a clear head to go out there and attack. I feel physically strong, I feel mentally strong overall. I think there are just a few factors that are accumulating and I’m just not executing at the pace I want to.

Two things here.

The first is that, yes, it’s a little late to start making adjustments. The second is that if the main guy isn’t feeling like himself and measuring up to forward hitters, what’s manager Aaron Boone doing putting him back on the mound again and again?

Admittedly, Weaver was one of the best relievers in the entire MLB with a 1.05 earned-run average in 25 and two-thirds innings before suffering a hamstring injury in early June.

But that’s no longer the case, and the Yankees skipper needs to get out of his unicorn world and stop having his colt pitch in a situation where New York still has a chance of winning the game.

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