It’s a first, and it all begins Saturday in Toronto.
The Blue Jays have never faced the New York Yankees in the Major League Baseball playoffs, but that will change as the two teams will collide in the best-of-five American League Division Series (ALDS).
The Jays took eight of their 13 matches against the Yankees in the regular season, but most know the postseason is a different beast.
Most feel the pitching matchup (starters yet to be announced at press time) is even, while Toronto has the advantage on defense, with the Bronx Bombers living up to the name having the advantage at the plate.
Here’s a look at both teams top performers
Blue Jays’ top performers
George Springer
OF/DH
32 HR , 94 RBI,.959 OPS (on base plus slugging-percentage)
Rotation
Kevin Gausman
RHP
3.59 ERA
Defense
Daulton Varsho
CF
10 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS)
Yankees top performers
Aaron Judge
RF
53 HR, 114 RBI, 1.145 OPS
Rotation
Max Fried
LHP
2.86 ERA
Bullpen
David Bednar
RHP
12.8 strikeouts per nine innings pitched
Toronto is expected to start either Gausman or Shane Bieber in Game 1, while the Yankees will counter with Will Warren or Luis Gil.
At the plate, can Vladimir Guerrero Jr. produce and live up to the $500-million contract he signed earlier this year? In his first six career postseason games, Guerrero Jr. posted a .136 batting-average and .422 OPS.
Judge will likely be named American League Most Valuable Player, but Ben Rice is a player to watch for New York. The Jays could start all right-handed pitchers in the ALDS and Rice certainly provides pop from the left-side of the plate.
The X-factors, Toronto’s late-inning bullpen and Jeff Hoffman’s propensity to give up the home run. Hoffman allowed more homers (15) than any other American League reliever, blew seven saves and posted a 4.37 ERA on the season.
The Yankees hit more homers than any team in baseball this year, including 15 long balls in the ninth inning.
The Yankees defense which struggled at times including during the Jays four-game sweep back in July that gave Canada’s only MLB team the AL East lead – one they never relinquished.
Infielders Anthony Volpe and Jazz Chisholm Jr. combined to make 37 errors during the regular season.
Blue Jays-Yankees ALDS schedule
Game 1: Saturday, 4:08 p.m. ET at Toronto
Game 2: Sunday, 4:08 p.m. ET at Toronto
Game 3: Tuesday TBA at New York
Game 4*: Wednesday TBA at New York
Game 5*: Oct. 10 TBA at Toronto
* indicates if necessary
Rod Mawhood is a lifelong Niagara native who has had the pleasure of working in all three mediums – Radio, Print and TV – for over 20 years. His first announcing gig was with the then St. Catharines Stompers. Since then he’s worked in radio and TV in Toronto, and currently is the announcer for the Niagara IceDogs and Niagara River Lions.
Rod also covers the Buffalo Bills for FOX Sports and the Buffalo Sabres for NBC Sports.
