The Blue Jays hold a 2-0 lead in the ALDS after a 13-7 win over the Yankees today. Toronto has torched the Yankees for 23 runs over the two games, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (3-for-5 with a grand slam) and Daulton Varsho (4-for-5 with two homers and two doubles) doing the most damage today with four RBI apiece. Max Fried was charged with seven earned runs over three-plus innings in a disastrous outing for the Yankees ace.
New York’s lineup came to life with seven late runs against Toronto’s bullpen, after Jays starter Trey Yesavage was nothing short of dominant. In just his fourth career outing in the majors, Yesavage allowed only a walk over 5 1/3 hitless innings, with 11 strikeouts — the most K’s from any Blue Jays pitcher in a postseason game. The decision to pull Yesavage after 78 pitches seemed to be based on a desire to keep Yesavage from facing Yankees batters a third time, and to potentially keep Yesavage fresh for usage later in the series. Of course, the Yankees can only hope that there will even be a “later in the series,” as the Jays are just one win away from advancing to the ALCS. Game 3 is on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.
More from around the AL East…
- Rays assistant general manager and VP Carlos Rodriguez officially announced on Wednesday that he is leaving the organization. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times writes that Rodriguez “had been talking about [departing] for a while,” so the move has nothing to do with the Rays’ new owners, as it is believed that the incoming ownership group won’t be making any major changes to the baseball ops group. Rodriguez was one of four AGMs under president of baseball operations Erik Neander, and Topkin believes the club will fill Rodriguez’s spot by promoting from within. Rodriguez has been in his VP/AGM role for the last four seasons, and a member of Tampa’s organization for the last 15 seasons. Beginning as a scout, Rodriguez had many roles as he worked his way up the front office ladder, including multiple years running the Rays’ Latin American scouting and international scouting operations.
- Luke Weaver retired the only batter he faced in a mop-up appearance for the Yankees today, providing some small hope that the right-hander is turning things around. After an inconsistent regular season, Weaver has had a nightmarish postseason, as he hadn’t recorded a single out from six batters faced in two prior outings against the Jays (in Game 1 of the ALDS) and Red Sox (in Game 1 of the wild card series). Weaver discussed his struggles with MLB.com’s Jake Rill and other reporters before today’s game, suggesting that he may have been over-correcting in an attempt to keep from tipping his pitches. “I’m at a point where I’m just, ’Full send,’ and none of that’s going to matter anymore. So I’m going to be what I think is best for me, and I’m going to go out there and attack the way I need to do,” Weaver said.
- After a disappointing season for the Orioles and their core of young players, MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko opines that the team should go big in adding both experience and quality by signing Cody Bellinger this winter. To be clear, this is a speculative opinion on Kubatko’s part, rather than a suggestion that Bellinger might be on the Orioles’ radar this winter. Baltimore hasn’t been linked to Bellinger when he has been a free agent or trade candidate in the past, and signing Bellinger would represent far and away the team’s biggest financial splash of the Mike Elias era. Tyler O’Neill’s three-year, $49.5MM contract from last winter is the only multi-year free agent signing Elias has made, though the Orioles’ eight-year, $67MM extension with Samuel Basallo from the summer indicates that the club may be getting a bit more comfortable with larger spending.
Pass on Bellinger. I agree that getting some veteran leadership and some “winning” pedigree is necessary. But if we are going to spend money, it should be on the pitching side.
.215 team BA down the stretch
Yankees lost, Jets got embarrassed (again lol)…what a wonderful Sunday.
I’m sure Jays fans will be able to relate to how I feel right now this coming spring when their favorite NHL team implodes as usual.
My takeaway from this article:
1. A report on the Yankees game which, of course, is the only team that matters;
2. Luke Weaver has turned his season around after retiring one batter.
Luke Weaver rose to the occasion today for 1/3rd of an inning. Great decision by Boone.
A master class.
So he allowed zero hits through the lineup the first two times and people were scared for him to see them a third time? That makes ZERO sense. I could understand it if he scattered several hits and walks and made it because of some double plays or special defense. But the guy had a NO HITTER going. in the playoffs against the Yankees. That kid will be wondering “what might have been” for the rest of his life.
You play to win the war, not the battle…they took him out in case they want to use him again in a potential game 5. Not to mention the team was up a whopping 12-0.
Yeah and they nearly blew that 12-0 lead in the next two innings. Why in the world would you be preparing for a Game 5 when you are poised to go up 2-0 in a five game series anyway? That seems like a very defeatist attitude.
People won’t remember who won this series 10 years from now. But they would definitely remember a no hitter.
@hiflew
He was already at 78 pitches and hadn’t completed the 6th. He was never getting through the ninth for a complete game anything if that’s what you’re implying. They were never going to let him throw 120+ pitches which is what it might have taken to finish the game.
He’s a kid in his first season of professional baseball. He’s probably already thrown more pitches this year then any prior year.
Most importantly, this is the playoffs. It’s about team accomplishment, not individual glory.
Yeah, the “team” nearly accomplished giving up the game in the next two innings. Individual glory HELPS the team win. We are not talking about keeping him in to get a strikeout record when he has given up 5 runs or something. This was a no hitter. If a guy cannot throw more than 78 pitches, especially in a playoff game, he shouldn’t be a starter at all.
Lol every new york franchise is a joke.
I’m rooting for a Mariners vs Blue Jays ALCS!
Fried pitched a career high innings this year and got hammered. Weaver has pitched in 60+ games in back to back seasons after never having been anywhere close to that kind of use. Cole was burnt to a crisp when he came back last year. Gil massively overused in his first season, barely functional right now. Schlitter throws 107 pitches against the Red Sox. Dr. Boonedoggle in surgery, expertly removing pitchers from their careers.
I’m not sure Bellinger is the bat to go for but the O’s do need one. In my opinion Beavers needs to play damn near everyday if he can get on base like he did in his albeit sample size so far. You need to see what you have in Cowser and whether he can in fact stay healthy, not sure if his woes can all be attributed to being hurt or not. Ideally I’d rather have Bellinger than O’Neill as Bellinger has played 130+ games in 7 of his 9 years in the bigs (8 if you discount 2020) and O ‘Neill has played 130+ games in 1 year out of 8 (7 discounting 2020). But unfortunately we’re probably stuck with O’ Neill hoping (again) that he stays healthy.
The question is, where do you fit the bat that you need to add? First base is kinda open if they really don’t want to give Mayo consistent opportunities to figure it out. Basallo and Adley are going to be splitting time between DH and Catcher unless they trade Adley. Third base is going to be Westy assuming he can be healthy, Gunnar is at short and Holliday at second. You still have Enrique Bradfield Jr. knocking at the door as well for an outfield slot. I didn’t like the O’ Neill signing from the beginning because it was essentially a guarantee that he would go on the IL at some point. If you want an impact bat, someone has to get moved, I don’t think any amount of creativity with your lineup is going to do any of your current players any good at least in my opinion.
If first base is the position, they should go for Alonzo not Belinger assuming he opts out of Mets contract as expected.
Yankees need an overhaul of the team and coaches.