As you probably know, Blue Jays beat Yankees in four games on the heels of their series of divisions. Next up: the American League Championship Series.
I don't know who predicted the Blue Jays' Final Four appearance earlier this year, but here we are.
And the good thing is that winning Game 4 put a lot of people at ease…especially up-and-coming players. Around town it's still a question mark, but seeing the Blue Jays only give up one run to the Yankees without using a starter is…something.
I don't know who predicted it either.
Impressive work by Louis Varland, Mason Fluharty, Cerantoni Dominguez, Eric Lauer, Yariel Rodriguez, Brendon Little, Braydon Fisher and Jeff Hoffman.
Collectively, they limited the best lineup in baseball to just two runs on six hits as the Blue Jays advanced.
– Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) October 9, 2025
The Blue Jays won several important games late in the season to finish at the top of their division, which allowed them to build a strong rotation in the division series.
I don't know if John Schneider and his people would be alive without this.
And now, once again, three big wins this week will prepare the starting lineup for Game 1 of the division series on Sunday in Toronto.
Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage and Shane Bieber could all be used. The same goes for Chris Bassitt (who will likely be there as the No. 4 starter after throwing simulated innings this week and getting better) and Max Scherzer… although I don't see the veteran being in the rotation.
All of this is to say that John Schneider (who performed very well on Wednesday night) will be busy.
But that's not the only advantage for the Blue Jays, who will face the winner of the series between the Tigers and Mariners. The decisive match will take place on Friday evening in Seattle.
Not only will the club that wins on Friday go through Detroit-Seattle-Toronto in a few days (which requires a lot of travel), but several pitchers won't get a rest.
If the Tigers win – which is possible with Tarik Skubal on the mound – Game 5, Skubal won't be able to pitch until Game 3 of the championship series next Wednesday in the US. Thus, the Tigers could theoretically become an accessible target.
If the Mariners win, they will have such a good rotation that it won't matter much. But Seattle coach Dan Wilson won't have the same flexibility as his Toronto counterpart.
It won't be easy for the Blue Jays to win this series. But the club, which has scored 34 points in four games since the start of the playoffs, has a real chance to do something right.
Most runs scored in first 4 games of postseason:
1932 Yankees: 37
2020 Yankees: 36
1999 Red Sox: 35
2025 Blue Jays: 34 https://t.co/AjKbSTZFTc– Sarah together (@slangsonSports) October 9, 2025
It remains to be seen whether Bo Bichette will return healthy, but I'm not holding my breath. He's only just started running again and I don't think he'll be ready for Sunday when the 26-player Championship squad has to be moved.
We'll have to wait and see as nothing is official yet.
But hey. With or without Bichette, the Blue Jays will have to continue to rely on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The latter took the club on his shoulders and behaved like a star in New York. Can you imagine if he hadn't signed at the start of the season?
Will he be able to repeat his exploits in a series that promises to be less emotional? Because in Toronto and across the country, people are ready for it.
The Leafs crowd, shown in a 4-1 singles game, chants, “Let's go, Blue Jays.”
– Elliot Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 9, 2025
This content was created using artificial intelligence.
