Three keys to the Yankees-Blue Jays ALDS
Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees doubles during the second inning against the Boston Red Sox in game three of the Wild Card series at Yankee Stadium on Thursday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
1. For starters, Yankees appear to have the edge
Starting pitching was the story of the Yankees’ three-game victory over the Red Sox in the Wild Card Series, from Garrett Crochet’s brilliance in Game 1 to Cam Schlittler’s dominance in Game 3.
Schlittler (eight innings) and Max Fried (6 1/3) pitched shutout ball. Carlos Rodon allowed three runs in six innings with the season on the line in the Yankees’ 4-3 win in Game 2.
Now comes a more powerful offensive opponent in Toronto in the Division Series, and the Yankees will have to use a fourth starter in the first game, with Luis Gil getting the nod over Will Warren.
From Games 2-4, it’s Fried, Rodon and Schlittler, with Fried lined up for a potential Game 5 in Toronto. That’s good for the Yankees.
The Blue Jays have Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber as sure things in their playoff rotation. After that, it’s Chris Bassitt, who is battling a back problem, or Max Scherzer, who has been ineffective lately, or 22-year-old rookie Trey Yesavage, who has three big-league games under his belt.
Starting pitching could be a big advantage for the Yankees.
2. Contain the Blue Jays' big boppers
Blue Jays catcher / DH Alejandro Kirk isn’t a career .500 hitter against the Yankees. It just appears that way. He seems to get big hits whenever the teams meet up.
In reality, Kirk is a career .262 hitter with 17 doubles, six homers, 27 RBIs and a .778 OPS in 62 games against the Yankees.
Still, with shortstop Bo Bichette unlikely to play because of a left knee sprain, Kirk will be a big out for the Yankees to get along with stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer.
Guerrero loves to hit against the Yankees and especially at Yankee Stadium (.308, 16 homers and a 1.002 OPS in 48 games in the Bronx).
Springer, the Yankees’ former Houston Astros nemesis, hit .348 with four homers, 12 RBIs and a 1.116 OPS against them in 2025.
3. Bronx Bombers gotta bomb
The Yankees beat the Red Sox despite hitting only two home runs in the three games, a solo shot by Anthony Volpe in Game 1 and a two-run blast by Ben Rice in Game 2.
Aaron Judge — still waiting to replicate his regular-season success in the postseason — had four hits in 11 at-bats, all singles. Interestingly, the Red Sox went right after Judge and did not walk him once (he did get hit by a pitch once). Judge was content to be a table-setter.
Giancarlo Stanton, who already has proved he’s a postseason beast, went 1-for-11 with a double that was almost a home run in the Yankees’ series-clinching 4-0 win in Game 3.
It also was almost a single, as Stanton nearly was thrown out at second after styling at the plate instead of running out of the box.
“Kids at home, don't do that,” Stanton told the YES Network after the game. “Future opponents, please do that. Bonehead play. Just glad it worked in our favor and it won't happen again."
The Yankees did not score in the inning. Their four runs in the fourth were forged by a bloop double, a walk, three singles and a two-run error. The Yankees won by playing little ball and passing the baton. It was unlike them.
To beat the Blue Jays, they probably will need home runs. More than a few of them.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
More Yankees headlines
