The New York Yankees are heading north for a rematch with the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 American League Division Series, a matchup that's already stirring memories of their heated divisional battles. After clinching their spot by sweeping the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card round—capping it with a decisive 4-0 win on Thursday—the Yankees now face a Blue Jays team that edged them out for the AL East crown. Both squads finished the regular season at 94-68, but Toronto's 8-5 head-to-head edge secured the top seed and home-field advantage through the ALCS. It's a best-of-five series, and the stakes couldn't be higher for these longtime rivals.
Game 1 kicks off Saturday at Rogers Centre in Toronto, with first pitch at 4:08 p.m. ET. The Yankees, riding momentum from their postseason opener, will look to disrupt the Blue Jays' home dominance right away. Sunday's Game 2 follows at the same time and venue, 4:08 p.m. ET, potentially shifting the series' tone if New York steals one on the road. Should it go longer, Games 3 and 4 head to Yankee Stadium on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 7 and 8, with times to be announced. A Game 5, if needed, would wrap up back in the Bronx on Friday, October 10.
Indeed, the Blue Jays enter as favorites, bolstered by a resurgent Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and a pitching staff that's been lights-out late in the year. However, the Yankees' Aaron Judge and a revamped lineup bring their own firepower, especially after dismantling Boston's vaunted rotation. Toronto hasn't tasted ALDS victory since 2016, a drought that adds quiet pressure to their polished regular-season run. Moreover, with the Yankees chasing a return to the World Series after last year's pennant, this series feels like a grudge match wrapped in playoff intensity.
Yet, as these AL East foes collide once more, one can't help but ponder how deep this rivalry will carve into October's narrative.