ALDS Game 1 - New York Yankees @ Toronto Blue Jays, Saturday October 4, 2025, 4:08PM, (Pg 6)

[ItsDanger]

Vlad better step up. He's been awful lately.

[dchoye]

No Scherzer in the starting rotation.
I rather have Bassitt.
Bassitt has incredible good stats at home and very poor away and so I’m not sure if I start him on the road

[Michael Bradley]

I think it will be Gausman-Bieber-Yesavage-Bassitt. I don't think they start Max in a playoff game after how he finished the season. At least I hope not.

[Hottie McShotty]

No Scherzer in the starting rotation.
I rather have Bassitt.
Bassitt has incredible good stats at home and very poor away and so I’m not sure if I start him on the road

Would you put Scherzer in the bullpen instead?

[WaltFrazier]

Vlad better step up. He's been awful lately.

I'm hoping the rest will help him in case his hamstring is lingering. On the other hand he's been running the bases well and fielding well. Maybe just a rest will reset his batting stroke.

[tecumseh18]

I haven't been following too closely (especially as things got stressful over the last 10 days) and have questions:

1. Why can't they go back to starting Lauer? He was our best SP for awhile this season.

2. Did Hoffman regain any of his velo in the last week? How fast was his FB on Saturday?

3. If Bo is available to at least DH, where would Springer play? Can he still play the outfield on natural turf for the road games?

[bluerap23]

Bieber game 1
Gausman game 2 - with extra extra rest
Trey game 3
Bassitt + Bullpen game 4

Offence, seems like everyone but Guerrero and Santander is in flow. Not worried about Guerrero, a week off is exactly what he needs. More worried about Santander, he needs as many swings as he can get. But if Bo is healthy, I time Santander comes off the bench anyway

Hopefully Bo is well enough to DH and that pushes Santander to pinch hitting. I still think he can contribute, but just not been his year.
Agree that the rotation makes sense, except I think they have to pitch Bassitt in game 2. Save the bullpen for bull penning. Bassitt's home/away splits are crazy so...

[bluerap23]

I haven't been following too closely (especially as things got stressful over the last 10 days) and have questions:

1. Why can't they go back to starting Lauer? He was our best SP for awhile this season.

2. Did Hoffman regain any of his velo in the last week? How fast was his FB on Saturday?

3. If Bo is available to at least DH, where would Springer play? Can he still play the outfield on natural turf for the road games?

1. Lauer isn't built up to pitch as a starter (pitch count). Starters will have a different routine than bullpen guys. He has definitely earned a good shot next season though. It will be good to have him out of the pen if someone gets shelled early as he's also proven to be the best bulk reliever.

2. Hoffman FB was up to 96 at one point but I still don't trust him. Average velocity is still down. He should have lost the job a while ago. He has had a better WHIP and ERA this month but still looks shaky AF to me.

3. Springer will play LF if Bo can DH.

[Parataxis]

And you need 4 SPs ready unless you want to start one on 3 day’s rest or do a bullpen game (which the Jays may choose over Bassitt/Scherzer).

I have a feeling it's gonna be Scherzer who gets that 4th starter nod over Bassitt. Or could be a bullpen game again with Lauer and Varland.

Scherzer has no business being on the playoff roster. It is about winning games and not "feelings". If you want to be down 3-0 after the first inning, sure start Scherzer (lol).

The old man should never pitch again in a Blue Jay uniform. He can keep on doing what he did the past couple of games, and encourage the young guys on the bench like Trey and Fluharty.

And this is doubly true for somebody like Scherzer, who has only been here a year, and isn't expected to be re-signed.

That said, I'd love to see Scherzer in a Jays uniform next year - as a pitching coach.

[JCP11]

Vlad better step up. He's been awful lately.

The good news is that what happened this season doesn't matter anymore. We've seen Judge dominate in the regular season and disappear in the playoffs. This is a new season, I don't think it can get any worse than it's been lately.

[spykelee]

The best news for Vlad is that he tends to hit very well both in Boston and NY

[And1Skip]

Bieber game 1
Gausman game 2 - with extra extra rest
Trey game 3
Bassitt + Bullpen game 4

Offence, seems like everyone but Guerrero and Santander is in flow. Not worried about Guerrero, a week off is exactly what he needs. More worried about Santander, he needs as many swings as he can get. But if Bo is healthy, I time Santander comes off the bench anyway

I like Bieber over Gasuman for game 1 (and 5) as well. Neither Red Sox or Yankees have seen Bieber this season (so for 2 years now)

[xAIRNESSx]

Never get tired of seeing the emotion Kirk showed rounding the bases after the grand slam.

Read on Twitter

[bartron_44]

Considering starters are only asked to go through a lineup twice in the playoffs, I see no reason why Lauer can’t be used as one in the ALDS. He is pitching great right now.


My rotation would be Gausman, Bieber, Lauer and Yesavage. I would also want both Nance’s CB and Scherzers experience down in that bullpen. But I could also see Max as the “#4” and Yesavage and that splitter used out of the bullpen.

Hoff
Yariel
Dominguez
Varland
Fisher
Nance
Scherzer
Little
Fluharty

[JN]

No Scherzer in the starting rotation.
I rather have Bassitt.
Bassitt has incredible good stats at home and very poor away and so I’m not sure if I start him on the road

Because of the days off for travel in between games, both the first game or second game could start game 5 on regular rest. I'd like the flexibility to choose either one based on how they did in their first start.

I like the thought of Bassitt pitching at home, but I don't want him pitching game 1, game 2 (or game 5 obviously). So I think he has to be slotted on the road (game 4 for me)

[JN]

Here are my thoughts on the rotation for the ALDS.

A few points to consider.
- Both the game 1 and game 2 starter can pitch on full rest during game 5, due to travel days after game 2 and game 4.
- The above allows you to do two things:
a) Choose the starter who pitched more effectively in game 1 or game 2 as your game 5 starter.
b) Have the option to use both your game 1 and game 2 starters in game 5, with one coming out of the pen.


So I'm struggling because a) suggests I should probably go with Gausman and Bieber in game 1/2 and then be able to pick who did best to pitch game 5. But point b) suggests Yesavage might make the most sense for game 2.... he might be the best for middle innings if needed in game 5, and he can also only stay at home which might help with him.

In the end I go with Bieber and Gausman in game 1/2 not really worried about the order, then pick the one who pitched better in game 5.

But in a way I would like to use Yesavage or Bassitt in game 2 since they may have the most positive variance from pitching a game at home vs the road.

[JN]

This series is a Best of ?? format?

Best out of 5 in a 2-2-1 format. We get 3 home games and get to host game 5.

And you need 4 SPs ready unless you want to start one on 3 day’s rest or do a bullpen game (which the Jays may choose over Bassitt/Scherzer).

A 3 man rotation is also an option you have to think of, because it only requires one of your pitchers to pitch on short rest and you have a 10 man bullpen to back them up if they are only used for 4 or 5 innings.. And since I don't think they have much interest putting Bieber in the short rest spot that would make Gausman day 1 starter:

G1: Gausman
G2: Bieber
G3: Yesavage

After you see how Gausman did in game 1, you then have the choice of:
G4: Gausman (short rest) or Bassitt
G5: Bieber (or Gausman if not used in game 4)

Or say you are playing the Yankees you can fully commit to Gausman in game 4 when selecting the roster... and then make the ballsy choice of a 4th lefthander instead of Bassitt.

[JN]

Early projection at a 26-man playoff assuming Bichette is still injured (safe assumption it seems) and they go with 13 hitters and 13 pitchers:

C: Kirk/Heineman
1B: Guerrero
2B: Clement
SS: Gimenez/IKF
3B: Barger
LF: Schneider/Santander
CF: Varsho/Straw
RF: Lukes
DH: Springer

Missing: France, Loperfido.


SP: Gausman
SP: Bieber
SP: Yesavage
SP: Bassitt

RP: Hoffman
RP: Little
RP: Dominguez
RP: Varland
RP: Fisher
RP: Rodriguez
RP: Nance
RP: Lauer
RP: Fluharty

Missing: Scherzer, Berrios, Bruihl, Borucki

Scherzer will be a controversial omission I’m sure but it would be negligent to put him on over any of those four starters or 9 RPs (absent Hoffman perhaps and we all know he’s making the team).

I think that roster makes sense. Although as I discussed above, I'd consider another lefty against the Yanks and say no to both Bassitt and Scherzer, with Gausman doing G4 on short rest.

Any consideration going to the 14 hitter / 12 pitcher option which can be elected in the playoffs? They like the lineup flexibility but I don't see a clear role for either Loperfido or France against righties or lefties, so I don't see any point forcing a 14th position player in.

[Mehar]

For the people who still have Max Scherzer on the playoff roster as a starter or reliever, take a good look at the guy's numbers again the last month (his last 6 Starts). His numbers are absolutely terrible, including all of the hard contact he gave up.

He is not the Scherzer who was terrific with the Nationals, leading them to the World Series 6 years ago. The old man should never pitch again in a Jays uniform.

[dh_45]

Bichette won't be even able to DH. He still can't run which means it's a more serious grade 2 sprain