The New York Yankees are set to clash with the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Division Series, a rematch of divisional rivals that promises tension from the jump. After dispatching the Boston Red Sox in a decisive 4-0 Game 3 win on Thursday, the Yankees punched their ticket to this best-of-five showdown. Toronto, meanwhile, clinched the AL East on the season's final day with a blowout over Tampa Bay, their first postseason step since 2016. It's a series that could hinge on pitching depth and late-season surges, though both teams enter with question marks.
Game 1 fires up Saturday at 4:08 p.m. ET from Rogers Centre in Toronto, where the Blue Jays hold home-field advantage as the top seed. Expect Gerrit Cole on the mound for New York, facing off against Toronto's Kevin Gausman in what looks like a classic duel. Then, Game 2 follows Sunday at the same time, 4:08 p.m. ET, still in Toronto—MLB's afternoon slots a nod to the playoff rhythm, or perhaps just logistical quirks. If the series stretches, Game 3 shifts to Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, October 7, with times TBD but likely evening affairs. Games 4 and 5, if needed, would wrap up there by Thursday.
Indeed, the Yankees' path wasn't smooth; they stumbled into the wild card after a late fade, relying on Aaron Judge's steady bat—4-for-11 against Boston—and Wyatt Langford's homer in his playoff debut. Toronto counters with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s quiet power and George Springer's veteran savvy, hitting .347 in September. However, the Blue Jays' bullpen has shown cracks, and New York's offense, led by a resurgent Stanton, could exploit that. Moreover, this matchup revives old grudges from the AL East grind, where Toronto edged out New York by a hair.
Still, playoffs often defy regular-season narratives. As the first pitch approaches, one wonders if Toronto's home crowd can propel them past a Yankees squad hungry for another pennant run.