The AL East rivals faced each other 13 times in the regular season, with the Blue Jays winning eight of those games.
The New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays will kick off the American League Division Series on Saturday in a long-anticipated matchup. It's the first postseason encounter between these longtime rivals, with the Yankees aiming to make it back to the World Series after last year's defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Blue Jays seeking their first playoff win since 2016.
Toronto, the top seed in the American League, earned a first-round bye, while the Yankees advanced by convincingly beating Boston 4-0 on Thursday in the decisive Game 3 of their Wild Card series.
Both teams finished the regular season tied at the top of the AL East with a 94-68 record, but Toronto secured the No. 1 seed thanks to their head-to-head record. The Blue Jays hold an 8-5 advantage over the Yankees in the season series.
Game 1 lineups
Yankees
- Trent Grisham, CF
- Aaron Judge, RF
- Cody Bellinger, LF
- Ben Rice, 1B
- Giancarlo Stanton, DH
- Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B
- Ryan McMahon, 3B
- Anthony Volpe, SS
- Austin Wells, C
Starting pitcher: Luis Gil
Blue Jays
- George Springer, DH
- Nathan Lukes, RF
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B
- Addison Barger, 3B
- Alejandro Kirk, C
- Daulton Varsho, CF
- Anthony Santander, LF
- Andres Gimenez, SS
- Ernie Clement, 2B
Starting pitcher: Kevin Gausman
Game 1 live updates
Yankees get on the board
5:58 p.m.: The Yankees cut the Blue Jays' lead to 2-1 in the top of the sixth inning. Anthony Volpe led off with a double and advanced to third on a single by Austin Wells. Trent Grisham followed with a walk to load the bases for Aaron Judge. The Yankee captain worked the count full but struck out, bringing up Cody Bellinger, who then drew a bases-loaded, one-out walk to put the Yankees on the board. Ben Rice popped out and Giancarlo Stanton struck out to strand the bases loaded.
Blue Jays 2, Yankees 0
5:17 p.m.: Through four innings, the Blue Jays lead the Yankees 2-0 in Game 1 of the ALDS. Alejandro Kirk started the bottom of the second with a home run, and the Yankees went down in order in the third and fourth innings.
Blue Jays strike first
4:26 p.m.: Vladimir Guerrero hit a home run to left field with two outs in the bottom of the first inning, giving Toronto a 1-0 lead after one inning.
Game underway
4:11 p.m.: Game 1 is underway at Rogers Centre in Toronto, as Yankees' leadoff hitter Trent Grisham steps into the box to face Blue Jays' starter Kevin Gausman as we kick off the best-of-5 series.
Series schedule, results
Game 1
- Date: Saturday
- Time: 4:08 p.m.
- Where: Rogers Centre, Toronto
- Channel: FOX-23
- Pitching probables: Luis Gil-Yankees, Kevin Gausman-Blue Jays
Game 2
- Date: Sunday
- Time: 4:08 p.m.
- Where: Rogers Centre, Toronto
- Channel: FS1
- Pitching probables: Max Fried-Yankees, TBD-Blue Jays
Game 3
- Date: Tuesday
- Time: 8:08 p.m.
- Where: Yankee Stadium, Bronx
- Channel: FS1
- Pitching probables: Carlos Rodon-Yankees, TBD-Blue Jays
Game 4 (if necessary)
- Date: Wednesday
- Time: 7:08 p.m.
- Where: Yankee Stadium, Bronx
- Channel: FS1
- Pitching probables: Cam Schlittler-Yankees, TBD-Blue Jays
Game 5 (if necessary)
- Date: Friday
- Time: 8:08 p.m.
- Where: Rogers Centre, Toronto
- Channel: FOX-23
- Pitching probables: TBD
Yankees postseason roster
- Pitchers: David Bednar, Paul Blackburn, Fernando Cruz, Camilo Doval, Max Fried, Luis Gil, Tim Hill, Carlos Rodon, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Luke Weaver, Devin Williams.
- Infielders: Jose Caballero, Jazz Chisholm Jr., J.C. Escarra, Paul Goldschmidt, Ryan McMahon, Ben Rice, Amed Rosario, Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells.
- Outfielders: Cody Bellinger, Jasson Dominguez, Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton.
Blue Jays postseason roster
- Pitchers: Shane Bieber, Justin Bruihl, Seranthony Dominguez, Braydon Fisher, Mason Fluharty, Kevin Gausman, Jeff Hoffman, Eric Lauer, Brendon Little, Tommy Nance, Yariel Rodriguez, Louis Varland, Trey Yesavage.
- Infielders: Addison Barger, Ernie Clement, Andres Gimenez, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Tyler Heineman, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Alejandro Kirk.
- Outfielders: Nathan Lukes, Anthony Santander, Davis Schneider, George Springer, Myles Straw, Daulton Varsho.
Yankees season leaders
- Home runs: Aaron Judge, 53
- Batting average: Judge, .331
- RBIs: Judge, 114
- Wins: Max Fried, 19
- Saves: David Bednar, 27 (17 with Pirates, 10 with Yankees)
- ERA: Fried, 2.86
- Strikeouts: Carlos Rodon, 203
Blue Jays season leaders
- Home runs: George Springer, 32
- Batting average: Bo Bichette, .311
- RBIs: Bichette, 94
- Wins: Chris Bassitt, 11
- Saves: Jeff Hoffman, 33
- ERA: Kevin Gausman, 3.59
- Strikeouts: Gausman, 189
This article originally published at LIVE: Yankees vs. Blue Jays AL Division Series guide: How to watch, schedule, scores, stats.
Category: General Sports