⚾ Playoff Drama! The Blue Jays Shock the Yankees and Advance ⚾
Good morning, sports enthusiasts! Tyler Lauletta here, filling in for Dan Gartland who’s still navigating the Los Angeles traffic after a captivating series at Dodger Stadium. But the real story unfolding right now isn’t in California – it’s the stunning upset in the Bronx.
Here’s what’s happening today at Sports Illustrated:
⚾ A Deep Dive into the Yankees’ Postseason Shortcomings: What went wrong for the AL East favorites? (https://www.si.com/mlb/2025-yankees-fell-short-in-all-facets)
🏀 The NBA’s Top 10 Players Revealed: See where your favorite stars rank in our comprehensive list. (https://www.si.com/nba/2025-si-nba-100-rankings-nos-10-to-1-digital-cover)
⛹️ A’ja Wilson Continues Dominance: The WNBA Finals are heating up, and one player is proving unstoppable. (https://www.si.com/wnba/aja-wilson-is-unstoppable-game-3-wnba-finals)
Wednesday delivered a thrilling day of baseball, with four teams facing elimination. While three managed to extend their postseason lives, the Toronto Blue Jays emphatically ended the New York Yankees’ season, securing their place in the American League Championship Series. The Yankees are heading to Cancun, while the Blue Jays are dreaming of a World Series appearance. (https://x.com/JomboyMedia/status/1974942738639683681)
So, how did Toronto achieve this remarkable victory? It wasn’t about one single hero; it was a testament to exceptional teamwork, strategic preparation, and, frankly, some incredibly bold managerial decisions. It was a complete team effort, showcasing resilience and a clear game plan.
The Blue Jays entered Game 4 facing a significant challenge: a scheduled ‘bullpen game’ against Yankees rookie pitching sensation, Cam Schlittler. This situation was complicated by the previous day’s game, which also devolved into a bullpen battle. Starter Shane Bieber lasted less than three innings, forcing six relievers into action, with four of them ultimately allowing runs. (https://www.si.com/mlb/where-yankees-comeback-alds-game-3-win-ranks-postseason-history)
Instead of dwelling on the difficulties of Tuesday’s game, the Blue Jays demonstrated remarkable composure. They looked inward, adjusted their approach, and confidently sent Louis Varland to the mound. Varland received the starting nod less than 24 hours after surrendering a towering home run to Aaron Judge – a blast that seemed to shift the series’ momentum. (https://www.si.com/mlb/aaron-judge-monstrous-homer-alds-game-3-had-yankees-fans-on-feet) (https://www.si.com/mlb/yankees-dugout-best-reaction-aaron-judge-game-tying-homer) This gave Varland an immediate opportunity for redemption against the Yankees’ formidable lineup. While Judge did reach base with a single, Varland remained unfazed, pitching 1 ⅓ scoreless innings before handing the ball over.
Next, Mason Fluharty took the mound and conceded a solo home run to Ryan McMahon, tying the game at 1–1. However, he quickly regained control, striking out the next three batters he faced before exiting the game.
From that point forward, Seranthony Domínguez, Eric Lauer, Yariel Rodríguez, Brendon Little, and Braydon Fisher combined to deliver over five innings of shutout baseball against a Yankees lineup that had scored nine runs on them the night before. When Jeff Hoffman entered to secure the final four outs, the Blue Jays had built a comfortable 5–1 lead. Although he allowed one run, Hoffman extinguished the Yankees’ rally, and with it, their season.
But here's where it gets controversial… Any bullpen game requires a collective effort, but Wednesday’s victory was particularly meaningful for the Blue Jays’ relievers. Three pitchers – Varland, Fisher, and Little – who had surrendered runs during Tuesday’s Yankees’ comeback were back on the mound Wednesday, and they held New York scoreless. This demonstrates a remarkable level of trust from the manager and a willingness to put players in challenging situations.
It takes significant courage for a manager to rely so heavily on a bullpen that had recently struggled, but this was, in fact, the plan all along. As soon as the Yankees’ lineup was confirmed, the Blue Jays’ staff, spearheaded by manager John Schneider, meticulously crafted a game plan, determining when and where each reliever would be deployed.
The game transformed into a strategic chess match, and Schneider proved to be a master tactician.
“John’s got some of the best feel in the game,” Lauer commented about his manager. (https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46537524/blue-jays-def-yankees-reach-first-alcs-2016) “I think him and [pitching coach Pete Walker] and all the guys that create everything that we do—the lineups, the pitching changes—are good baseball guys. They understand the flow of the game, pockets where guys need to be used, what situations are bigger and smaller. That's all them. Having the trust to bring in every guy that they brought in and get the job done. When you have that, it's an unquantifiable trait, but it's very real.”
While this “feel” might be difficult to measure, the results speak for themselves. Toronto is now heading to the ALCS with a legitimate chance to reach the World Series for the first time in over three decades.
They will face the winner of Friday’s Game 5 between the Tigers and Mariners, and will benefit from some much-needed rest before the next round. The Blue Jays won their regular season series against both teams, and after defeating the Yankees, they must feel incredibly confident. There’s truly nothing quite like the intensity of playoff baseball.
…things I saw yesterday:
Victor Wembanyama seems to have grown again during the offseason, and his dunks are certainly reflecting that. (https://www.si.com/nba/spurs-victor-wembanyama-two-inches-taller-this-nba-season) (https://x.com/NBA/status/1976095371739758899)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays celebrating their victory as the Kings of New York. (https://x.com/Sportsnet/status/1976118152200421468)
Kyle Schwarber launched a ball off the roof of Dodger Stadium! (https://x.com/MLB/status/1976105539039002845)
“One Battle After Another” – a must-read.
A’ja Wilson, simply inevitable at the buzzer. (https://www.si.com/wnba/aja-wilson-is-unstoppable-game-3-wnba-finals) This series is remarkably close despite the 3-0 scoreline.
And this is the part most people miss… The Blue Jays’ success wasn’t just about individual performances; it was about a collective belief in a plan and a manager who wasn’t afraid to trust his players, even after setbacks. Do you think this level of trust is crucial for success in playoff baseball? Do you agree with Schneider’s aggressive bullpen management, or would you have preferred a more conservative approach? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
