YANKEES' POSTSEASON COMES TO AN END

The NY Yankees lost the American League Division Series to the Toronto Blue Jays in 4 games. The Blue Jays won games 1 and 2 but the Yankees rallied and won game 3 giving fans hope. Unfortunately the Yankees didn’t deliver in game 4.

As a Yankee fan I am disappointed. The Blue Jays were missing pitchers Max Scherzer, Jose Berrios and Chris Bassitt. Also missing was Bo Bichette. This was prime opportunity for the Yankees to beat them.

Luis Gil pitched game one. He allowed 2 runs in 2 2/3 innings. He gave up a home run in the first and second innings. Down 2 runs, the Yankees had the bases loaded with one out and Kevin Gausman walked in a run. There was still hope, but just as we have seen all season long, the bullpen struggled. Luke Weaver and Fernando Cruz pitched the seventh inning and allowed 4 runs. Paul Blackburn pitched the eighth inning and allowed another 4 runs. The Yankees lost 1-10.

In game two, rookie Trey Yesavage pitched against Max Fried. Fried who had been stellar all season, struggled, allowing 7 runs in three innings. Will Warren followed that up with 6 runs in 4 2/3 innings. Combined they had a total of three strikeouts. Yesavage pitched 5 1/3 no hit shutout innings with 11 strikeouts. The Blue Jays used seven pitchers to close out the game. The Blue Jays hit 5 home runs. Cody Bellinger hit a 2 run home run in the sixth inning but the Yankees were still down 10 runs. They scored 5 runs in the seventh inning but fell short after. Blue Jays won 7-13.

Game 3 Carlos Rodon struggled as well, allowing 6 runs in 2 1/3 innings while Shane Bieber allowed 3 runs, 2 earned in 2 2/3 innings. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a 2 run home run in the first inning to kick off the scoring for the Blue Jays. Giancarlo Stanton hit a RBI single that inning to put the Yankees within 1.  But the Blue Jays scored 4 more runs in the third inning off a bunch of singles. That inning Aaron Judge hit a RBI double and Stanton hit a RBI sacrifice fly to put the Yankees within 3. Judge hit a 3 run home run in the fourth inning to tie the game. Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a home run and Austin Wells hit a RBI single in the fifth inning putting them up by 2. Ben Rice hit a RBI sacrifice fly in the sixth and the Yankees won 9-6 in Yankee Stadium. David Bednar gave up no hits in 1 2/3 innings to close out the game.

Yankee fans got a glimmer of hope as the series was now heading to game four with rookie Cam Schlittler on the mound.  Unfortunately Sclittler’s performance wasn’t bad it just wasn’t as good as his last playoff appearance and he had no help from the Yankees’ batters. He allowed 4 runs, 2 earned, in 6 1/3 innings. While the Blue Jays used a committee of 8 pitchers, who combined only allowed 2 runs. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. scored first again with a RBI single but Ryan McMahon hit a home run to tie the game. The Blue Jays added another run in the fifth inning. Devin Williams relieved Schlittler in the seventh inning and two runs scored on a single due to runners being on second and third because of a fielding error by Jazz Chisholm Jr. The Blue Jays had another run in the eighth inning to go up 5-1. The Yankees had the bases loaded with two outs in the eighth inning but couldn’t get a run. Jasson Dominguez made his post season debut in the ninth inning to pinch hit for Anthony Volpe and hit a double. He got to third on a ground out by Trent Grisham and scored on a single by Aaron Judge but Cody Bellinger struck out to end the game. The Blue Jays won 5-2 and now wait to see if they will face the Detroit Tigers or the Seattle Mariners for the American League Championship Series.

The fate of the Yankees for 2026 is up in the air. Many people are calling for Aaron Boone to be fired and some feel the Yankees need to make some moves to get better relief pitchers. They have several players heading into free agency: Cody Bellinger, Tim Hill, Paul Goldschmidt, Amed Rosario, Trent Grisham, Paul Blackburn, Jonathan Loaisiga, Luke Weaver and Devin Williams, Ryan Yarbrough, and Austin Slater.

I feel the Yankees have a hole in center field that should be addressed. We can’t rely on Trent Grisham, as well as he did in the regular season, he’s not the long term answer. Jasson Dominguez I don’t think is the answer either. Obviously the bullpen needs some help as well. I would keep Weaver on the team but would let Loaisiga, Yarbrough, and Blackburn go. Devin Williams evolved and did pitch better towards the end of the season, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he wants out of New York. There’s social media discussion about the Yankees going after Pete Alonso from the NY Mets to replace Goldschmidt at first base. While he may bat well I personally don’t think he would be a good fit for the team.

I am looking forward to seeing how the off season plays out and hope the Yankees can strengthen their weaknesses. Maybe 2026 will be the year they play in the World Series. Let’s go Yankees!

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