Yankees feel like they ‘owe something’ to the Blue Jays after last season
NEW YORK — Champagne drenched the carpets of the clubhouse guests the last time the Toronto Blue Jays had been in the Bronx. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. screamed “DAAAAA YANKEES LOSE” on nationwide tv, as the Blue Jays danced on the bass of the New York Yankees’ 2025 season.
The Yankees have not forgotten how last season they went towards their American League East rival. They completed 6-11 versus Toronto, together with the postseason. Their 5-8 report towards the Blue Jays in the common season value them the tiebreaker to win the division. Finishing with the similar 94-68 report as the Blue Jays however beginning the postseason in the Wild Card Series as a substitute of a bye into the AL Division Series was the final reminder of how each sport issues on the street to 162.
“Every game is very important, but there are situations where we should lock in — not that we aren’t locked in, but being aware that there’s maybe a little more to it,” Yankees starter Cam Schlittler stated. “I think this is one of those series. The same with Tampa (this weekend) as well. We went to their place and easily could have taken two out of three. We didn’t. So, it’s frustrating. I think we’re in a good position to make a good run here and take these two series as a momentum shift.”
The Yankees entered this four-game sequence towards the Blue Jays scuffling. They went 2-7 on their nine-game street journey and ended it with main considerations. One of these is nearer David Bednar and the roller coaster he’s been on all season. Monday night time was no completely different.
Bednar wanted 36 pitches to get three outs in the ninth inning, however he held on for the save in a 7-6 comeback win over the Blue Jays. Groans stuffed Yankee Stadium after Bednar walked Ernie Clement to lead off the ninth. Jesús Sánchez adopted with an RBI double, reducing the Yankees’ lead in half. But after strolling Yohendrick Piñango, Bednar buckled down, placing out George Springer and getting Guerrero to floor out to finish the sport.
The Yankees’ nearer blew the save Sunday towards the New York Mets by permitting a three-run house run to Tyrone Taylor. It was his second blown save of the street journey. After giving up a run Monday, Bednar has allowed at the very least one run in 11 of 21 video games this season, which is tied with St. Louis Cardinals reliever Matt Svanson for the most in MLB.
“One of the things we love about him is he’s not flappable,” Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone stated of Bednar. “No matter what’s going on, you trust who he is.”
David Bednar and catcher JC Escarra have fun after surviving a nervous ninth inning. (Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
Second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. was one of those concerns the Yankees had handled for the majority of this season, however he has began to produce at the plate. He got here via in the seventh inning Monday, after Cody Bellinger’s two-run blast, by hitting a two-run homer of his personal that ricocheted off the left-field foul pole and gave the Yankees a 7-5 lead. Chisholm credit his turnaround at the plate to sporting Giancarlo Stanton’s two-sizes-too-big pants and using José Caballero’s bat.
Chisholm spent the offseason eager about his error in Game 4 of the ALDS towards the Blue Jays. The Yankees trailed 2-1 in the seventh inning, however their error value them two runs. It successfully buried their season. He hopes this yr is completely different when the Yankees face the Blue Jays.
“Especially losing to them in the playoffs, we gotta have a different mindset when it comes to them,” Chisholm stated. “Every time we see them, we have that feeling. At least I do, for sure. I know a couple of other guys in the clubhouse have that feeling of, like, we owe you something. We’re gonna show you what we’ve got.”
This is a vital week for the Yankees, who will play seven consecutive video games towards the Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays, the AL East chief by three video games. New York has a chance this week to make Toronto’s possibilities of crawling again into the division race appear daunting. After the Blue Jays’ loss Monday, they’re 10 1/2 video games again of the Rays and seven 1/2 video games again of the Yankees for second place.
Schlittler stated he could not wait to pitch Wednesday towards the Blue Jays after not being his sharpest towards them in the postseason last yr. Earlier on Monday, I appeared on a New York Post podcast and stated he hoped his teammates had a “fire under everyone’s ass” heading into this sequence. He cannot converse for everybody, however there’s one fueling him earlier than his begin.
“It wasn’t (specifically saying) that everyone has a fire under their ass,” Schlittler stated. “I was just implying that they should. I think, regardless of the situation of playing them, I think how the road series played out last week, that’s enough for (his teammates) to have an edge. At least, for me, it’s frustrating.
“It’s motivator to get again house after a fairly lengthy street journey and simply lock in with taking part in a division opponent that ended our season last yr. I feel it is a great way to put ourselves ready to get on a roll and take momentum into the remainder of the sequence and towards Tampa as effectively.”
