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

[Randle McMurphy]

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.

They've done 14 hitters/12 pitchers before for one of the WC series, but I think they'll opt for more pitching this time given the weakness of the rotation (and the fact that Loperfido/France don't really add much).

[Randle McMurphy]

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.

They purposely avoided having Gausman (and pretty much everyone in the rotation) pitch on regular rest in the last couple of months and we just saw what Gausman's first start on regular rest in a while looked like yesterday. I think it's gonna be piggybacking Bassitt/Lauer or bullpen game in a game 4 based on how this FO has operated in the past.

[JN]

Good thing (for most Jays fans anyway) is due to Boston or New York in the ALDS is that we are very unlikely to be pegged with any of the weekday early games.

[JaysRule15]

Good thing (for most Jays fans anyway) is due to Boston or New York in the ALDS is that we are very unlikely to be pegged with any of the weekday early games.

Our record during day games was also trash I think, so this definitely helps lol

[bluerap23]

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.

They purposely avoided having Gausman (and pretty much everyone in the rotation) pitch on regular rest in the last couple of months and we just saw what Gausman's first start on regular rest in a while looked like yesterday. I think it's gonna be piggybacking Bassitt/Lauer or bullpen game in a game 4 based on how this FO has operated in the past.

Have you seen Bassitt home/away splits?

[WuTang_CMB]

just my guess:

I think they go back to Gaus for game 1
and maybe they put Trey game 2 so he's at home
Bieber who's experienced prob goes game 3

[Randle McMurphy]

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.

They purposely avoided having Gausman (and pretty much everyone in the rotation) pitch on regular rest in the last couple of months and we just saw what Gausman's first start on regular rest in a while looked like yesterday. I think it's gonna be piggybacking Bassitt/Lauer or bullpen game in a game 4 based on how this FO has operated in the past.

Have you seen Bassitt home/away splits?

Are you suggesting you want Bassitt to start game 2 over one of the team's best pitchers?

If he even pitches in game 4, I guarantee you it won't be for long at all. The bullpen game last week against the Red Sox set out the blueprint for what they're likely to do with Bassitt/Lauer's possible involvement.

[COY0607]

just my guess:

I think they go back to Gaus for game 1
and maybe they put Trey game 2 so he's at home
Bieber who's experienced prob goes game 3

Issue with this is, Gausman is set up for game 5- with regular 4 days rest. He’s not done well with 4 days rest recently

Bieber game 1 and 5 may be a better option, Gausman game 3

[bartron_44]

They said today on Jays Talk+ that the home/away splits for Basitt was mostly due to a huge strength of competition difference between his home and away opponents, and not that he’s two different pitchers.


Although, I don’t see why you need more than 3 starters tbh. But the 4th game for me would still be a Varland/Lauer/bullpen game.

On a different note…the more you look into Springers stats, the more I think he deserves to be not only the team MVP, but in the running for league AL MVP. I know he won’t win over Judge and Raleigh… but imo he should be no lower than 3rd this year.

Not only was his season great, but he was unbelievable clutch. The bigger the AB, the better he got basically…


Springers season: .309/.399/.560 (and 18 SBs)
In the second half: .369/.454/.667
RISP: .330/.419/.580
2 out and RISP: .356/.434/..593


He also had to be basically all-world for them to win games.. just look at this drastic difference:


In wins: .386/.465/.703
In Losses: .190/.296/.338


My argument for Springer over Judge, is that Springer had an even higher OPS than Judges in the second half, the Jays won the season series again NY, and the Jays (technically) had the best record in the AL.


Argument over Raleigh… He had a higher OPS over the full season, and much higher in the second half. The Jays also finished with more wins.

[Raptor_Guy]

just my guess:

I think they go back to Gaus for game 1
and maybe they put Trey game 2 so he's at home
Bieber who's experienced prob goes game 3

Issue with this is, Gausman is set up for game 5- with regular 4 days rest. He’s not done well with 4 days rest recently

Bieber game 1 and 5 may be a better option, Gausman game 3

Game 1 is Saturday, Game 5 is Friday, so Gausman in Game 5 would have 5 days rest, not 4.

[bluerap23]

They purposely avoided having Gausman (and pretty much everyone in the rotation) pitch on regular rest in the last couple of months and we just saw what Gausman's first start on regular rest in a while looked like yesterday. I think it's gonna be piggybacking Bassitt/Lauer or bullpen game in a game 4 based on how this FO has operated in the past.

Have you seen Bassitt home/away splits?

Are you suggesting you want Bassitt to start game 2 over one of the team's best pitchers?

If he even pitches in game 4, I guarantee you it won't be for long at all. The bullpen game last week against the Red Sox set out the blueprint for what they're likely to do with Bassitt/Lauer's possible involvement.

It is a tough call. His home numbers are excellent so I’d consider it. I would not let him pitch on the road period. If he isn’t pitching game 2 he shouldn’t pitch. I’d rather go Varland and Lauer in game 4.

[bartron_44]

Im totally cheering for NY and Cleveland to come back in these wild card rounds…As good as they have been against lefties this year, I want no part of Skubal or Crochet. Especially not Det when they can start Skubal 3 times in a 7 game series. God he’s filthy.

At least if they do end up playing Boston, they may get lucky and only face Crochet once in that series. If that ends up being game 2, it may be a good idea to start Bassitt in that game to see if he can fool them for 3 innings, and then back him up with Lauer and Varland.

[DelAbbot]

just my guess:

I think they go back to Gaus for game 1
and maybe they put Trey game 2 so he's at home
Bieber who's experienced prob goes game 3

No way.

You got to give Biebs 2 starts if the ALDS goes 5 games. Starting Biebs game 1 is no brainer

[Randle McMurphy]

just my guess:

I think they go back to Gaus for game 1
and maybe they put Trey game 2 so he's at home
Bieber who's experienced prob goes game 3

No way.

You got to give Biebs 2 starts if the ALDS goes 5 games. Starting Biebs game 1 is no brainer

Gausman has the better underlying numbers (Bieber has had a HR problem since his return), I expect they’ll go with him first.

[Boogie!]

This is not a knock on yesavage and more a testament to our **** starting pitching, but it’s crazy how we’re relying on a rookie who literally shot up to the majors in 1 season, and only pitched 3 mlb games for us, to pitch in the most important games of the year.

And somehow despite our **** pitching were first in the al east. Lmao.

[WuTang_CMB]

just my guess:

I think they go back to Gaus for game 1
and maybe they put Trey game 2 so he's at home
Bieber who's experienced prob goes game 3

No way.

You got to give Biebs 2 starts if the ALDS goes 5 games. Starting Biebs game 1 is no brainer

Nah. I think they go Gaus game 1

[WuTang_CMB]

This is not a knock on yesavage and more a testament to our **** starting pitching, but it’s crazy how we’re relying on a rookie who literally shot up to the majors in 1 season, and only pitched 3 mlb games for us, to pitch in the most important games of the year.

And somehow despite our **** pitching were first in the al east. Lmao.

Definitely unusual. Baseball is a funny sport.

[Potential]

Our starting pitching sucks ass. Get prepared for trailing early in games and having to make a comeback where the games are a lot more tense

[Randle McMurphy]

Read on Twitter

Not a chance Hoffman is getting those guys out

[DelAbbot]

Hoffman blows a save and loses ALDS:

Atkins: "The decision to use Hoffman as closer came from the dugout"
Schneider: "It wasn't my decision"