The Toronto Blue Jays finished first in the American League this season. The club was therefore enjoying a week off at the start of the playoffs… and waiting to find out whether it would face the Yankees or the Red Sox in its opener.
And after the brilliance of young Cam Schlittler yesterday, it was the Yankees who prevailed. We’ll be treated to a duel between the two best teams in America this season, both having finished the campaign with a 94-78 record.
Having spent the year in a fierce battle for the top of the division, the two clubs will settle their accounts for good in the coming week.
The pitchers
As we saw against the Red Sox, the Yankees have a scary rotation. Max Fried and Carlos Rodon showed why they’re so highly paid, while Cam Schlittler had one of the best playoff starts in Yankee history.
Only Roger Clemens has done so well with the Yankees since 1962.
That said, these three guys won’t be available for Game 1. Fried is expected to pitch Game 2, with Rodon and Schlittler to follow. Fried would be ready for a possible final game.
For game #1, the club is still deciding whether Luis Gil or Will Warren will get the ball. Gil seems to be the favourite at the moment, but nothing has been officially announced.
On the Toronto side, however, the club also has the weapons to stay up late. Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber and Trey Yesavage are expected to form the top line, with Chris Bassitt possibly rounding out the group.
We know that Gausman will start the series, but the rest is still unclear.
Both teams have struggled with their bullpen this season, but there’s talent on both sides. The Yankees, however, have the edge in the ninth inning (David Bednar is more reliable than Jeff Hoffman), and the Bombers have bigger names (Devin Williams, Luke Weaver and Fernando Cruz, among others).
But all these guys have struggled at times during the season: they’re not completely sure things either.
Positional players
We all know that the Yankees’ forwards are formidable. The club can field a full line-up of players who have hit at least 19 home runs this season… and the Blue Jays won’t be able to get away with it.
With most of these guys being left-handed, it’s harder for Aaron Boone to pull out the full arsenal against a left-hander. But against the Blue Jays, that won’t be a problem: guys like Ben Rice and Jazz Chisholm Jr. will play all the time.
We’ll have to keep an eye on the health of Cody Bellinger, who appeared to be injured at the end of Game #3 against the Red Sox. We expect him to be ready, that said.
But the Blue Jays, even if they don’t have as much power, have a formidable group in their own way. George Springer, who is a monster in the playoffs, is the leader of a group that also relies on guys like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alejandro Kirk and Daulton Varsho, among others.
Anthony Santander, who is more than capable of hitting the long ball, is also a guy who could make a difference.
But of course, in Toronto, we wonder whether Bo Bichette will be able to play. We don’t expect him to, but John Schneider hasn’t closed the door either. Although, of course, it’s in his interest to keep the doubt alive, whether it’s well-founded or not.
The Jays’ big advantage in this series, however, is their defense. The club excels at that… and we know the Yankees are prone to blunders at that level.
The club was solid against the Red Sox (Anthony Volpe was particularly good), but it will be something to keep an eye on.
The managers
John Schneider has never won a playoff game as a manager. So it’s hard not to give Aaron Boone the edge in this duel.
That said, the Jays manager has found a way to take his group to the top of the division this year. You have to give him credit, though, as he’s capable of getting the best out of his current group.
Let’s see if he can do it in the playoffs… especially as he’ll be facing a manager who’ll be galvanized after beating his nemesis in the last few days.
The imponderables
This year, the Blue Jays have won eight of the 13 duels between the two clubs. The Toronto team seems to have the Bombardiers’ number… and will benefit from the support of its fans for the first two games of the series.
They’ll need to take advantage of it… because winning in the playoffs as a visitor to Yankee Stadium isn’t easy, says Wilyer Abreu.
This will be the first time in history that the Yankees and Blue Jays will meet in the playoffs.
Let’s see who will win this ultimate duel in 2025 between two teams with a battle to finish this year.
This content was created with the help of AI.
) 
(@BryanHoch) 
YOUR GAME ONE LINEUP 
