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TORONTO – The Yankees had done their homework on Trey Yesavage, at least as much as they could. The rookie right-hander was something of a mystery, a live arm theyâ€d never faced, with a unique release and a hellacious splitter that didnâ€t show up clearly on video. Still, they figured they would adjust once they saw him live.

Then the first inning started, and reality hit hard. Three strikeouts later, the Yankees realized they werenâ€t just facing a challenge – they were in trouble. Yesavage carved through their lineup like a veteran, the Rogers Centre crowd roared like an all-day party and New Yorkâ€s hopes of returning to a second straight World Series are once again on the brink.

By the time Vladimir Guerrero Jr. launched a fourth-inning grand slam off Will Warren, the game had gone from frustrating to humiliating. Max Fried was knocked out early, the deficit ballooned and the Yankees had no choice but to endure the final innings of a 13-7 loss to the Blue Jays in Sundayâ€s Game 2 of the American League Division Series.

The Yankees must win three consecutive games to extend their season, including a potential Game 5 here in Toronto, where they have lost all but one of their nine contests this year. Itâ€s a tall order, magnified by this: In Division Series with the current 2-2-1 format, teams to win both Games 1 and 2 at home have advanced 31 of 34 times (91.2%), including 20 sweeps.

The most recent comeback in both situations came in the 2017 ALDS, when the Yankees rallied past Cleveland. To accomplish that, theyâ€ll have to flip the script after being outscored, 23-8, through the first two games of this series.

A 22-year-old top prospect who opened this season with Class-A Dunedin, Yesavage became the latest breakout star of this postseason, raising his hands to a curtain call after striking out 11 over 5 1/3 hitless, scoreless innings. All of New Yorkâ€s damage came off the bullpen, as the Yankees scored seven runs on 10 hits following Yesavageâ€s exit, forcing Toronto manager John Schneider to rifle through his available arms.

Ernie Clement hit a two-run homer in the second inning off Fried, who was charged with seven runs on eight hits and two walks over three-plus innings.

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The good news for the New York Yankees is that things can’t get much worse in the ALDS. The bad news is that if things don’t get better by Tuesday, their season will be over.

The Toronto Blue Jays beat up on the Yankees Sunday, 13-7, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the series.

Very little went well for the Bronx Bombers. The team couldn’t muster a single hit against Toronto starter Trey Yesavage, who struck out 11 batters and only gave up a single walk in 5.1 innings.

While the Yankees were whiffing, Toronto’s offense blasted five home runs, highlighted by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s grand slam:

The Yankees have now given up 23 runs in the past two games to the Blue Jays, the most runs ever allowed by the organization in a two-game playoff span.

So as you might imagine, MLB fans and pundits were quick to roast the team for both Sunday’s rough performance and the team’s rough start to the ALDS in general:

The first 6.5 innings of this series were competitive. When the Blue Jays strode to the plate in the bottom of the seventh in Game 1, they held just a 2-1 lead. But they scored four runs in that frame and four in the eighth to secure a 10-1 win on Saturday.

The hit parade continued on Sunday, and if the Blue Jays continue to produce offense like this in New York the Yankees don’t have much of a change. If there is a positive to take from this game, it’s that the Yankees finally generated some offense later in the game, putting seven runs on Toronto’s bullpen in the sixth and seventh innings while loading the bases in the top of the ninth.

They showed some life after offering very little for the first 14 innings of this series. It’s something to build on for Tuesday’s Game 3. At this point, Yankees fans will take any glimmer of hope they can get.

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TORONTO — Sunday in Toronto, a star was born.

Trey Yesavage had the Yankees seeing ghosts, the highest-scoring offense in baseball suddenly baffled by a 22-year-old with a pitch that plummets from the sky and disappears.

Game 2 of the ALDS will forever be remembered for what Yesavage did on the Rogers Centre mound, striking out 11 Yankees over 5 1/3 innings of no-hit ball, the strikeouts a postseason franchise record in his debut. It was one of the greatest performances in this organizationâ€s history, the type of moment weâ€ll still be talking about years from now, comparing everything that comes after it to what Yesavage just did.

When manager John Schneider finally strolled out to lift Yesavage, there were boos mixed in with the raucous ovation about to build. Everyone wanted to see more.

Yesavage, by the numbers:
• Set a new record for strikeouts by a Blue Jays pitcher in the postseason (previous record, 8, shared by David Price twice, Juan Guzman and Dave Stieb).
• Yesavage (22 years, 69 days) is the 2nd-youngest pitcher with a double-digit strikeout game in postseason play (John Candelaria struck out 14 at 21 years, 335 days in the 1975 NLCS G3)
• His 10 strikeouts through four innings were tied for the most in postseason history (Patrick Corbin, 2019 NLCS G4)

The moment that captured Yesavage best came in the very first inning. Heâ€d walked in from the bullpen a few minutes prior, a close-up of his own face towering above him on the video board as the crowd roared for him. Soon, he had leadoff hitter Trent Grisham in a 1-2 count, set up perfectly for that splitter, which has turned hitters inside out all season. Grisham called time and stepped out of the box to take a couple of swings and a breath.

Yesavage? He just stood there.

Already set for the pitch with the ball high in his glove, Yesavage stood completely still on the mound, glaring in at Grisham as if to say, “Take your damn time, Iâ€ll be here.” When Grisham finally stepped back in, there came the splitter and there went Grisham, back to the dugout as Yesavageâ€s first of 11 strikeouts.

From then to the moment Yesavage strolled off the mound, nodding his head and sneaking a look at the crowd heâ€d just given the performance of a lifetime to, we saw a pitcher in complete control of the moment. He earned the second curtain call of the night, climbing those steps just an inning after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and thrusting both hands straight up into the air to another eruption of sound from the crowd.

All of this from the youngest postseason starter in Blue Jays history, a 2024 first-rounder who threw his first professional pitch six months ago in Single-A. Yesavage started this season mowing down teenage hitters in mostly-empty Single-A stadiums, then came High-A, Double-A and Triple-A. Heâ€s touched every level of this organization in a single season, joking that he knows just about everyone now. Itâ€s the type of development arc teams dream of, but can almost never pull off.

Now, everyone can begin to dream on the next start and the next. Yesavage, the biggest and brightest surprise of the season, has officially arrived.

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Three days after the New York Yankees got a historic playoff performance from their best rookie pitcher, they were on the receiving end one of an instantly iconic postseason debut by Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage.

The 22-year-old, who just made his MLB debut on Sept. 15, didn’t have nerves on the playoff stage with 11 strikeouts over 5.1 no-hit innings against the Yankees in Game 2 of the ALDS on Sunday.

Since Yesavage is still on a closely-monitored pitch count having already thrown a career-high 112 innings in the regular season between the majors and minors, he was pulled from the game with one out in the fifth inning to a raucous ovation from the Rogers Centre crowd.

e Jays were leading 12-0 when Yesavage left the game. No one was happier to see him get pulled than the Yankees, who immediately responded by getting their first hit of the game with two outs in the sixth on Aaron Judge’s single.

Cody Bellinger got the Yankees on the board with a two-run homer off Justin Bruihl. It at least ensured the Bronx Bombers wouldn’t be shut out in a playoff game for the first time since Game 3 of the 2022 ALCS against the Houston Astros.

Pitchers making their first career postseason start have generally done very well this October. The Yankees advanced to the ALDS on the strength of Cam Schlittler’s eight shutout innings with 12 strikeouts and no walks against the Boston Red Sox in Game 3 of the wild-card series.

Shohei Ohtani is obviously an established superstar, but he had never pitched in the playoffs until Game 1 against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. The three-time MVP got hit early, though he rebounded after a shaky start to toss six innings and strike out nine while allowing just three earned runs in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 5-3 win.

Yesavage’s performance might be the most unexpectedly great outing for a first-time playoff starter. He was just drafted 15 months ago with the No. 20 pick in 2024 and started this season in A ball, playing at four different levels before getting called up to the big leagues.

The Blue Jays got their first playoff win since 2016 in Game 1 against the Yankees. If Yesavage keeps pitching like this going forward, they might represent the AL in the World Series for the first time since 1993.

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Even in the most trying moments, when it looked like his career had migrated north to never to return, George Springer refused to lose sense of who he is. Over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, the fearsomeness that had defined Springer’s career vanished. And yet he balked at the idea that numbers would define him. He still believed greatness existed within, and any hope at a resurgence necessitated him being his truest self. Which is why every day when the music in the Toronto Blue Jays’ clubhouse thumped through the speakers, Springer would start to dance.

“There has to be a lightheartedness about the day,” Springer said. “It doesn’t matter how you’re doing. I’ve kind of always been that way. When things are not going the way, you want ’em to, you tend to try to find and search for things that aren’t there.”

Gone, in this instance, was the power that defined Springer’s game and the dynamism that made him a four-time All-Star. The quest to find them tested Springer’s fortitude and made the 2025 season that much more fulfilling. Because along with his swing, Springer found purpose. The former World Series MVP wanted to take the Blue Jays back to the playoffs, win another championship — and to ride a Royal Canadian Mounted Police horse through the streets of Toronto.

Saturday starts the endgame of that journey. At 4 p.m. ET, the top-seeded Blue Jays will host the New York Yankees in the first of their best-of-five American League Division Series at Rogers Centre. The 36-year-old Springer will bat leadoff, serve as designated hitter and try to carry over his best season in more than half a decade to the time of year that makes him want to dance more than any.

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For all of the excellence Vladimir Guerrero Jr. offers, the power Daulton Varsho provides, the timely hitting Bo Bichette brings, nobody mattered more to the 2025 Blue Jays than Springer. His .309 batting average ranked fourth in Major League Baseball, his .399 on-base percentage second, his .560 slugging percentage fifth. Only Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani finished with a higher weighted on-base average than Springer’s .408 mark. It harkened back to Springer’s time with the Houston Astros, when his prolific regular-season performances were capped annually by Octobers worth remembering.

“A lot of people wrote off George Springer, said he’s passed his prime, thought the Houston George that I knew and I hated and I played against was gone,” Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt said. “People thought that was a thing in the past. I’m just proud of George being kind of who he is and never really just being OK with being average.”

Even if age is the ultimate performance suppressor, the sight of a diminished Springer — no longer able to patrol the outfield gazelle-like, cratering to a .674 OPS last year — registered as a surprise. He arrived in Toronto in 2021 on a six-year, $150 million free agent contract to rekindle the glory days of the Blue Jays, who last won a World Series in 1992. Though Springer’s lone championship came with the 2017 Astros later exposed for cheating via a sign-stealing scheme, he had earned a reputation as an annual winner and postseason performer, his 19 postseason home runs tied for sixth most all time.

Playing for a Toronto team swept out of the wild-card round in 2022 and 2023 before finishing in last place in the AL East in 2024 whittled away at that reputation as well as his numbers. It prompted him to embrace the suggestions of Toronto’s hitting coaches — David Popkins and Lou Iannotti joined Hunter Mense — that he prioritizes getting off what they called his “A-swing” more often. Springer’s capacity to swing at high speeds had evaporated in 2024, and it would have been easy to chalk that up to age.

“He was very, very passive at times, and he was very defensive, especially hitting-wise,” Bassitt said. “And this year they have him locked into ‘No matter the count, it’s just aggressive.’ He always feels like he’s on the attack and in control of the bat, and then you make a mistake and he’s ready for it.”

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The path to his return was not linear. In spring training, Springer hit .108 in 37 at-bats. He went hitless on Opening Day. Toronto’s staff did not waver in its support. Springer’s body remained pliable and explosive, and Toronto’s coaches were convinced that in time the results would match the quality of his swings. The Blue Jays’ hitting coaches, Springer said, have “done everything they can to make sure that I stay in the right headspace. That even if I hit a ball hard and I’m out, it’s OK. It’s to focus on the process and not the result.”

Outcome eventually caught up to process. His bat speed, which had dipped below 72 mph, approached 74, one of the largest gains in MLB this year and in the upper quartile of the league. He stopped chasing pitches outside the zone. He kept drawing walks. And when he did get off that A-swing, it did extreme damage. He posted an OPS over 1.000 in each of the season’s final three months. Springer’s 32 home runs led the Blue Jays. His all-around game crested as well, with 18 stolen bases in 19 attempts and a thirst to cause havoc on the basepaths.

“His baserunning has been contagious,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “That has set a standard for our team and helped us astronomically.”

On-field Springer, teammates said, is exceeded only by his off-field version. He is beloved in the Blue Jays’ clubhouse, where he serves as the wise man to a batch of 20-somethings. When Varsho spent two months on the injured list with a strained hamstring, the only thing he could guarantee every day was that his phone would ring and he would see Springer trying to FaceTime him. Springer’s support buoyed Varsho through the doldrums of waiting for an injury to heal — and served as lesson time, too.

“One thing that I’ve learned from him is how to be able to shut off your brain after games. He’s the best,” Varsho said. “Whether it’s a good day or a bad day, it doesn’t matter. Once that game’s done with, it’s over. It’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. I’ve never seen anybody be able to go right after the game, snap their fingers and it’s like, it’s gone. And it’s honestly very, very impressive. Talk about him postseason-wise: That’s why he’s so good. Because he’s able to turn that brain off really fast.”

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That time on the calendar has arrived. The Yankees, who the Blue Jays beat via tiebreaker to secure the top seed and home-field advantage in the AL, come to Toronto still reveling in their wild-card series win against Boston. They know Springer well. He beat them in the wild-card game in 2015. He beat them in the ALCS in 2017. He beat them in the ALCS again in 2019. And now, starting with his 68th career playoff game, he has a chance to do so once more.

“It doesn’t matter who you’re playing,” Springer said. “You’ve most likely already played them. You’ve most likely faced a guy on the mound before you’ve played in these environments. The biggest difference is the overall atmosphere is much more intense.”

With more than 40,000 people packed into Rogers Centre, there are scant few baseball environments more intense than Toronto. And it infuses in Springer all the more energy to fulfill his goal. He wants to celebrate a title by serving as an honorary Mountie for one day, high atop his steed, strolling down a packed-to-the-gills Bremner Boulevard.

The Toronto Police Mounted Unit is happy to oblige. In a recent video, a police officer offered Springer a deal: Win the World Series, and the coolest pony ride this side of HorseCapades is his. The love of these Blue Jays, picked to finish last in the AL East, is endless, and the least the city can do for their most productive player is offer him a ride.

So he’ll step into the batter’s box today against Luis Gil and try to make this October as memorable as April through September. Unleashing his A-swing. Fighting the good fight against Father Time. And dancing all the way.

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Trey Yesavage, Blue Jays ALDS Game 2 starter pitching breakdown

\n\n”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:” 6-foot-4, 225-pound righty simply rears back and fires straight downhill. That’s why Blue Jays coaches like to say that Yesavage’s splitter, his signature pitch, comes \”from the sky.\”\n\nYesavage releases his splitter, which produced a 57% swing-and-miss rate and 50% strikeout rate in the regular season, from the highest arm slot of any of his pitch types — 65 degrees, compared to 63 on his fastball and 62 on his slider.\n\nIf you want to get a sense of what \”a splitter that comes from the sky\” looks like, here’s how Yesavage’s splitter arm slot compares to other MLB offspeed pitch types in 2025:”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Image”,”caption”:null,”contextualCaption”:null,”contextualAspectRatio”:”1:1″,”credit”:null,”contentType”:null,”format”:”png”,”templateUrl”:” the sky, indeed.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2025-09-21T19:07:30.433Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({\”preferredPlaybacks\”:\”mp4AvcPlayback\”})”:” Yesavage strikes out Jac Caglianone with a splitter in the bottom of the 3rd inning vs. the Royals”,”displayAsVideoGif”:false,”duration”:”00:00:07″,”slug”:”jac-caglianone-strikes-out-swinging-ikkjoe”,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”InternalTag”,”slug”:”season-2025″,”title”:”Season 2025″,”type”:”season”},{“__typename”:”GameTag”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”in-game-highlight”,”title”:”in-game highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”highlight”,”title”:”highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”game-action-tracking”,”title”:”game action tracking”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-702056″,”title”:”Trey Yesavage”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:702056″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-141″,”title”:”Toronto Blue Jays”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:141″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”pitching”,”title”:”pitching”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”sporty-cc”,”title”:”Sporty CC”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”game-story-highlight”,”title”:”Game story highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”eclat-feed”,”title”:”Eclat feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”fan-duel”,”title”:”Fan Duel”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”international-feed”,”title”:”International Partner feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”imagen-feed”,”title”:”Imagen feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”thumbnail”:{“__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:” Yesavage K’s Jac Caglianone”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/jac-caglianone-strikes-out-swinging-ikkjoe”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”#### *He’s kind of like Justin Verlander, but he’s not exactly like Justin Verlander*\n\nIf you want an over-the-top starting pitcher comparison for Yesavage, the better one is Justin Verlander, not Tong.\n\nWhy? Because Yesavage doesn’t just have an extreme over-the-top arm angle, he also has an extremely *high* release point. That’s a big part of his pitches \”from the sky,\” too.\n\nIn that sense, Yesavage pitches in the mold of Verlander, a classic over-the-top power pitcher who still has the highest vertical release point of any starter … but by only a fraction of an inch over Yesavage.\n\n**Highest release points, SP, 2025** \n*Min. 200 total pitches*\n\n1\\. Justin Verlander: 7.10 feet \n**2\\. Trey Yesavage: 7.09 feet** \n3\\. Tyler Wells: 7.02 feet \n4\\. Nick Pivetta: 6.78 feet \n5\\. Austin Gomber: 6.61 feet”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Image”,”caption”:null,”contextualCaption”:null,”contextualAspectRatio”:null,”credit”:null,”contentType”:null,”format”:”png”,”templateUrl”:” gets to that release point with an even higher arm angle than Verlander (55 degrees). His high release and true over-the-top delivery create a ton of rise on his fastball. And the rising fastball is, of course, the pitch Verlander is famous for.\n\nYesavage’s four-seamer rises about an inch more than Verlander’s these days. But they’re the same style of fastball.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”OEmbed”,”html”:”

Trey Yesavage vs. Justin Verlander, Mechanics. pic.twitter.com/knQZMZ6Qd0

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 16, 2025

\n\n\n”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:” generates 19.5 inches of induced vertical break on his fastball. That’s how much it \”rises\” based the way he releases and spins the baseball, removing the effects of gravity, which naturally drags all pitches down. Verlander was at 18.6 inches of induced rise in 2025.\n\nMore \”rise\” means the pitch drops less than the hitter expects, making them more likely to swing and miss, particularly up in the zone. And Yesavage has a top-five rising fastball among starting pitchers.\n\n**Most induced \”rise\” on four-seamers, SP, 2025** \n*Min. 100 four-seamers thrown*\n\n1-T. Jonah Tong: 19.8 inches \n1-T. Connor Gillispie: 19.8 inches \n3\\. Nick Pivetta: 19.7 inches \n**4-T. Trey Yesavage: 19.5 inches** \n4-T. Tobias Myers: 19.5 inches \n4-T. Tyler Anderson: 19.5 inches\n\nYesavage’s fastball might profile like Verlander’s, but the way he uses it is different. Yesavage wants his rising heater to set up his wipeout splitter for the K. The four-seamer comes from the sky and stays in the sky; the splitter comes from the sky and plummets to earth.\n\nFor Yesavage, the splitter is his No. 1 strikeout pitch by far. For Verlander at his peak, the rising fastball is what he used most to blow hitters away, and then he spun his slider and curve off of it.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”#### *He’s kind of like Kevin Gausman, but he’s not exactly like Kevin Gausman*\n\nIf you look at Yesavage’s pitch arsenal — four-seamer, splitter, slider — and the way he dominates with the split, you might think you’re seeing double in Toronto between him and Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman.\n\nGausman’s pitch types are the same. And he’s one of baseball’s preeminent splitter strikeout artists.\n\nA full season of Yesavage, ideally, would mirror a full season of Gausman at his most dominant.\n\nSo is Yesavage just the new Gausman? Not exactly. He has the same pitches, but they’re different versions of those pitches.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”OEmbed”,”html”:”

Trey Yesavage, Savage 84mph Splitter. âœŒï¸ pic.twitter.com/MZx7IcRBBp

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 21, 2025

\n\n\n”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:” a pitch movement perspective, the standout quality of Gausman’s fastball and splitter is how much horizontal movement they get. Take his best season with the Blue Jays, for example — 2023, when he struck out 109 batters on four-seamers and 127 on splitters. That season, Gausman’s fastball averaged 10.6 inches of arm-side run, over three inches more than the average big league right-handed pitcher. His splitter averaged 16.3 inches of run, over five inches more than average.\n\nYesavage’s stuff stays a lot more true. He comes straight at the hitter with his fastball-splitter combo, whereas Gausman’s pitches fade away by five-plus inches more.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Image”,”caption”:null,”contextualCaption”:null,”contextualAspectRatio”:null,”credit”:null,”contentType”:null,”format”:”png”,”templateUrl”:” and Yesavage’s arm angles are 25 degrees different — Gausman throws out of a three-quarters slot at 38 degrees, much lower than Yesavage’s 63 degrees over-the-top delivery. That creates the big divergence in their movement profiles.\n\nFacing Yesavage and facing Gausman are two different looks, even though their pitch types and their styles resemble each other.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2025-09-16T01:12:02.996Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({\”preferredPlaybacks\”:\”mp4AvcPlayback\”})”:” Yesavage was outstanding in his MLB debut, striking out nine batters to set the Blue Jays record and allowing just one run through five innings”,”displayAsVideoGif”:false,”duration”:”00:04:03″,”slug”:”trey-yesavage-sets-toronto-record-with-9-k-s-in-debut”,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”GameTag”},{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-141″,”title”:”Toronto Blue Jays”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:141″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-702056″,”title”:”Trey Yesavage”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:702056″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”vod”,”title”:”vod”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”highlight”,”title”:”highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”in-game-highlight”,”title”:”in-game highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”game-action-tracking”,”title”:”game action tracking”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”pitching”,”title”:”pitching”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”highlight-reel-pitching”,”title”:”highlight reel pitching”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”highlight-reel-starting-pitching”,”title”:”highlight reel starting pitching”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”mlb-debut”,”title”:”MLB debut”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”mlb-top-prospects”,”title”:”MLB Top Prospects”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”imagen-feed”,”title”:”Imagen feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”eclat-feed”,”title”:”Eclat feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”international-feed”,”title”:”International Partner feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”fan-duel”,”title”:”Fan Duel”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”roku-vod”,”title”:”Roku VOD”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”alexa”,”title”:”alexa”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”thumbnail”:{“__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:” Yesavage sets Toronto record with 9 K’s in debut”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/trey-yesavage-sets-toronto-record-with-9-k-s-in-debut”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”#### *He’s kind of like Dauri Moreta, but he’s not exactly like Dauri Moreta*\n\nWe’ve been focusing a lot on Yesavage’s fastball and splitter, since that’s his chief pitch combo, but we’ve actually saved the weirdest thing about him for last: his slider.\n\nYesavage’s slider breaks the wrong way.\n\nAlmost every breaking pitch in the world breaks to the pitcher’s glove side. That goes for basically all the curveballs, sliders, sweepers and slurves you see pitchers spinning around Major League Baseball.\n\nBut not Yesavage’s slider. Yesavage’s slider breaks to his *arm* side — for him, that means left to right. In a way, that makes it more like a screwball than a slider. And it’s the opposite direction that a hitter would expect his slider to move.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”OEmbed”,”html”:”

Trey Yesavage, Wicked 89mph Slider. 🤢

9th K thru 5 pic.twitter.com/2ICaJILUnj

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 16, 2025

\n\n\n”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:” slider movement is the oddity that put Moreta on the map with the Pirates a couple of years ago. But Yesavage’s slider moves even more to the arm side than Moreta’s does. It has more arm-side movement of any breaking pitch in the Majors.\n\n**Breaking pitches with most arm-side movement direction, 2025** \n*Min. 50 thrown*\n\n**1\\. Trey Yesavage’s slider: 3.4 inches** \n2\\. Chase Perry’s slider: 2.8 inches \n3\\. Dauri Moreta’s slider: 2.7 inches \n4\\. Brock Burke’s slider: 1.1 inches \n5-T. Elvis Alvarado’s slider: 0.9 inches \n5-T. Corbin Martin’s curveball: 0.9 inches\n\nYesavage’s slider moving the way it does has to create extra deception for batters who are used to every slider they face moving in the opposite direction.\n\nThat slider, coupled with Yesavage’s four-seamer and splitter, creates a pretty unique overall pitch profile. He throws three pitches in three different pitch groups: one fastball (his four-seamer), one breaking ball (his slider) and one offspeed pitch (his splitter). But they all reside in the same quadrant of pitch movement:”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Image”,”caption”:null,”contextualCaption”:null,”contextualAspectRatio”:”1:1″,”credit”:null,”contentType”:null,”format”:”png”,”templateUrl”:” it a winning profile in the postseason? We’ll see. But it’s a profile hitters *don’t* see, and that makes Yesavage a pitcher worth tuning in for.”,”type”:”text”}],”relativeSiteUrl”:”/news/trey-yesavage-statcast-breakdown”,”contentType”:”news”,”subHeadline”:null,”summary”:”Trey Yesavage has made all of three Major League starts, but he’s the one getting the ball for the Blue Jays in Game 2 of the American League Division Series. 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Did you miss anything from the past week at The Hockey News – Columbus Blue Jackets? If you did, we have you covered with the Sunday Recap. Click on each card below to read the stories from the past week.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced more cuts to their training camp roster. Yesterday, the cut more than a dozen players and now, not even 24 hours later they have made more.

The training camp roster was at 38 players, consisting of 22 forwards, 12 defensemen, and four goaltenders. After today’s cuts it now sits at 25, with 13 players getting re-assigned.

Blue Jackets Announce More Cuts To Training Camp Roster
The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced more cuts to their training camp roster. Yesterday, the cut more than a dozen players and now, not even 24 hours later they have made more.

Dean Kukan – 2015-2022 – Kukan is undrafted out of Volketswil, Switzerland.

Dean Kukan made his NHL debut in March of 2016 after playing the majority of the season with the Lake Erie Monsters. After playing in 8 games near the end of the season, he was sent back to Lake Erie and would help the Monsters win their first-ever Calder Cup. He had 5 points in 17 playoff games.

Kukan would bounce up and down between Columbus and Cleveland until 2022. He would play a total of 153 games for the CBJ and total 30 points. Where he excelled was in the minors, though. He played in 142 games for Lake Erie/Cleveland and totaled 59 points as a fairly skilled two-way defenseman.

After the 2022 season, Kukan made the decision to return to Europe. He returned to his home country of Switzerland to play for his original club, the ZSC Lions, on a five-year contract.

Kukan is also routinely chosen to represent the Swiss in international competitions. He played in the 2025 IIHF Worlds where he scored 9 points in 10 games.

14 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #14
The Columbus Blue Jackets have 14 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #14.

“It could go down as maybe the last goal ever on Fleury. I guess I could say I have it. Itâ€s definitely a moment Iâ€ll never forget. I donâ€t think Iâ€ve ever been in a building that loud before. It was really electric. It was cool. I think maybe Iâ€ll get booed every time I come here now, I donâ€t know.â€

Blue Jackets’ Prospect Accomplishes Memorable Feat Against Penguins
A hockey player gets the chance to accomplish many things over their career. Their first goal, first game, first fight, making the playoffs, and winning the Stanley Cup are among the biggest accomplishments. However, for Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Luca Del Bel Belluz, he can also add scoring on future Hall of Famer Marc-Andre Fleury for the final time.

According to Russian Hockey Insider Artur Khairullin, Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL has listed Babcock as a candidate for their head coaching job. Ak Bars, which is based in Kazan, Russia, is located 519 miles east of Moscow.

Mike Babcock Returning To Coaching?
One of the most controversial coaches in hockey might be looking for a comeback.

Johnny Gaudreau – 2023-2024 – Drafted by Calgary in 2011.

After signing with the Blue Jackets on July 13th, 2022, Gaudreau would play 161 games in two seasons with Columbus. He scored 33 goals and total 134 points.

The Blue Jackets and their fans were robbed of many more years of Johnny Hockey excellence on August 29th, 2024. The death of Johnny Gaudreau shook not only Columbus, but it also shook the entire hockey-loving world.

The Columbus Blue Jackets, Calgary Flames, and fans around the world refuse to let the memories of Johnny and Mathew Gaudreau be forgotten. For the last year, there have been countless charity events for different foundations and organizations all around North America.

Love Live Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.

13 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #13
The Columbus Blue Jackets have 13 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #13.

During his playing career, Carter spent his summers in Los Angeles, exploring the entertainment and business industries. Meeting Priority Records founder Bryan Turner influenced Carter to start his own record label, Big Up Entertainment.

From The Archive: Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop
The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

JiÅí Novotný – 2008-2009 – Drafted by Buffalo in 2001.

Novotný played 107 games for the Jackets and had 29 points. He never played another NHL game and left for Europe where he played until 2023.

Novotný spent time in Russia, Czechia, and Switzerland until he retired. He is now the Sports Manager for HC Motor České Budějovice.

Elite Prospects said about Novotný “Novotný is a center with a sound two-way game. With good vision and passing ability, he is more of a playmaker than a shooter. Handles the puck and skates well, too. Can kill penalties and win faceoffs.”

12 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #12
The Columbus Blue Jackets have 12 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #12.

Dylan Gambrell, who played 54 games for Cleveland last season, has signed a PTO with the Milwaukee Admirals. He was on a PTO with the Nashville Predators for training camp.

Two Former Monsters Earn PTO’s With AHL Teams
Two former Cleveland Monsters have joined AHL teams on PTOs.

During the fight, both players landed some big punches. Gudbranson was able to catch Wilson with a few uppercuts, but ultimately Wilson scored the takedown after 30-40 seconds. Nevertheless, it was a fight that answered the bell on a questionable hit. Both players seemed to agree and had a good tilt that energized the crowd.

Erik Gudbranson & Tom Wilson Square Off In Heavyweight Bout
Last night, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals squared off in a preseason matchup that saw the Capitals win 4-3. This game, much like most of the NHL preseason, had a fight. However, this fight included two heavyweights that can hold their own. Hereâ€s what happened.

Per Khairullin, “Defenseman Christián JaroÅ¡, whom Columbus placed on waivers to terminate his contract, will continue his career at Spartak.” JaroÅ¡ and the Blue Jackets mutually agreed to him being places on waivers just today.

Former Blue Jacket Christián Jaroš Rumored To Be Signing In Europe
Well, it didn’t take long for Christián JaroÅ¡ to get a job.

Kevin Dineen – 2001-2003 – Drafted by Hartford in 1982.

A CBJ Original, Dineen played 129 games for the Jackets and had 29 points in the early days of the franchise. He appeared in only four games in the 2002–03 season with Columbus, and on November 5, 2002, he retired from playing. In 1188 career games, Dineen recorded 355 goals and 760 points while registering 2229 penalty minutes.

After retiring, he joined the Blue Jackets front office as a Pro Scout and later as an assistant. General Manager. He was the head coach of the AHL’s Portland Pirates for six seasons before being hired as the head coach of the Florida Panthers. After two and a half seasons in Florida, he was fired and hired as an assistant by the Chicago Blackhawks. He has since been a head coach for the San Diego Gulls and the Utica Comets of the AHL. After starting the 24-25 season 0-8-0-1, Dineen was fired on November 6th, 2024.

11 Days Until Opening Nights At NWA: The History Of Jersey #11
The Columbus Blue Jackets have 11 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #11.

Per the NHL, Werenski is looking to become just the seventh U.S.-born defenseman in NHL history with three career 20-goal seasons.

He’d join Phil Housley (7x), Reed Larson (6x), Brian Leetch (5x), Gary Suter (3x), Al Iafrate (3x), and Mark Howe (3x) as the only ones to do so to date.

Zach Werenski Looking To Join Another Elite Group Of American Defensemen
Zach Werenski is an absolute superstar, but people in Columbus already knew that. Most experts around the league knew this as well and knew it was only a matter of time before he popped off.

Kris Russell – 2009-2012 – Drafted by Columbus in 2005.

Russell played 288 games in Columbus and had 79 points. He was traded to the St. Louis Blues on November 11, 2011, in exchange for Nikita Nikitin.

He went on to play 912 NHL games and total 254 points. After playing 6 seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, Russell retired in 2022

10 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #10
The Columbus Blue Jackets have 10 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #10.

Chris Johnson of TSN has reported that the Minnesota Wild have claimed Daemon Hunt off the waiver wire from the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Jackets were hoping he’d clear so he could return to Cleveland, but sadly, that didn’t happen.

Blue Jackets Lose Daemon Hunt To Waivers
Chris Johnson of TSN has reported that the Minnesota Wild have claimed Daemon Hunt off the waiver wire from the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Jackets were hoping he’d clear so he could return to Cleveland, but sadly, that didn’t happen.

David Výborný was drafted in 1993 by the Edmonton Oilers but never played a single game for them. When he did come to North America, he played in 76 games for the Cape Breton Oilers of the AHL. He showed his flash by scoring 23 goals and grabbing 61 points. After one season in the AHL, Výborný headed back to Europe until 2000.

9 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: David Výborný
David Výborný was drafted in 1993 by the Edmonton Oilers but never played a single game for them. When he did come to North America, he played in 76 games for the Cape Breton Oilers of the AHL. He showed his flash by scoring 23 goals and grabbing 61 points. After one season in the AHL, Výborný headed back to Europe until 2000.

“I think that we’ve got a pretty undercover breakout guy this year, Jet Greaves, Columbus. And now he’s the best performing goalie over the last three years in adjusted save percentage.â€

NHL Analyst Believes Greaves Is A Breakout Candidate This Season
Recently on an episode of Real Kyper and Bourne on Sportsnet, they had NHL analyst Steve Valiquette on the show, who specializes in goalies.

Let us know what you think below.

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TORONTO — Say hello to Playoff Vladdy. He was worth the wait.

In his very first at-bat of the ALDS against the Yankees, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. launched his first career postseason home run, a towering shot to left field that took its time falling into the Blue Jays†bullpen while Guerrero rounded the bases. What a moment for the face of the franchise.

The Blue Jays†10-1 win, this organizationâ€s first postseason win since Game 4 of the 2016 ALCS, immediately tilts the ALDS in their favor. Itâ€s the first postseason win of Guerreroâ€s career, too, and while heâ€s still planning on 10 more of these to bring a World Series trophy back to Canada, Saturday at Rogers Centre was a fine start and a major statement.

“Iâ€ve been [in the postseason] in 2020, 2022 and 2023, and this is my first win, and I feel very proud that as a team we did it all together,†Guerrero said postgame.

In postseason history, teams that win Game 1 in any best-of-five series have gone on to win the series 113 of 156 times (72.4%). In Division Series with the current 2-2-1 format, teams that win Game 1 at home have advanced 40 of 54 times (74.1%).

Vladdy hadnâ€t homered since Sept. 5, either, and following that, heâ€d posted just a .592 OPS down the stretch while the Blue Jays flirted with handing the AL East to the Yankees. If the Blue Jays are finally going to shift the balance in baseballâ€s powerhouse division, it needs to begin and end with Guerrero, the $500 million man who has been waiting for a swing like this on a stage like this.

The home run came on a changeup from Yankees starter Luis Gil, but it was already evident that Guerrero was hunting. On the second pitch of the at-bat, which he fouled back, Guerrero uncorked one of the biggest, wildest swings weâ€ve seen from him all season. Guerrero is always at his best when heâ€s letting it rip, even if there are some big hacks mixed in.

John Schneider, whoâ€s managed Guerrero since back to his days as the “next big thing†in the Minor Leagues, knows a Guerrero heater when he sees it. Pregame Saturday, Schneider lit up talking about Guerrero, saying that the break for the bye through the Wild Card Series was extremely important to Guerrero, who had an opportunity to exhale, clean up his mechanics and get back to who he is as a baseball player.

A half-inning later, the raucous crowd was already chanting Guerreroâ€s name again. With a runner on first, Guerrero made a diving grab on a broken-bat flare from Ryan McMahon, popped up, then scampered back to the bag to double off Jazz Chisholm Jr. Sprinting off the field after ending the inning all by himself, “Vladdy! Vladdy! Vladdy!†rained down on him.

“I mean, I think they donâ€t realize it, but Iâ€ve always got that — I always focus on, if Iâ€m not hitting, I always focus on defense,” Guerrero said about his prowess at first base. “Weâ€ve got to help the starting [pitcher], and to me, defense is like everything you do for the team. You hit, and you play defense, too.â€

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TORONTO — Six months ago, Trey Yesavage made his professional debut in Single-A, where sparse crowds scatter themselves through the stadiums recently abandoned by the buzz of Spring Training.

Saturday morning in Toronto, the 22-year-old climbed the steps of the Blue Jays†press conference room, then looked out to see a crowd that could rival his Dunedin debut. A stunning season of development — and five teams — have led him here.

Yesavage is the Blue Jays†Game 2 starter in the ALDS, manager John Schneider announced. The 22-year-old who has shot through the organization like a rocket ship isnâ€t just here to tag along. Heâ€s here to beat the damn Yankees.

“I canâ€t really repeat what he said,†Schneider said, laughing to himself. “But he was very excited.â€

Thereâ€s an edge to Yesavage, one that hides behind the well-mannered rookie who gets right to the point in his interviews, short and sweet. Heâ€s incredibly confident, but manages to remain subtle about it. Perhaps itâ€s because of how matter-of-fact he is about things.

Baseball is complicated. Players coming up today are already drastically different than those from a decade ago, given how much player development has changed — and in some ways accelerated — but there still comes a point where a player is thrown into the deep end. Sink-or-swim time comes for everyone, and the more you complicate an already complicated game, the less likely you are to stay above water.

Yesavage makes this all sound so simple. When he was promoted, the final step after playing for all four Minor League affiliates in 2025, he deadpanned that there are 5-year-olds who play baseball. Heâ€s 22. Heâ€d be just fine.

Sitting there Saturday, all of the cameras and another room of unfamiliar faces looking at him, Yesavage didnâ€t blink.

“Iâ€m built for this,†Yesavage said.

With Yesavage pitching Game 2 at home, Schneider said that part of the strategy is to keep the rookie away from Yankee Stadium, which can quickly become a “hostile†environment. Yesavage is surely built for The Bronx, too, but even the fastest-rising prospect in baseball needs to pace himself.

“I’ve experienced a lot this year. This is my fifth team I’ve been with. I’ve met the entire organization,†Yesavage said. “But being here in this spot, I couldn’t have drawn it up any better.â€

By pitching Game 2, Yesavage could also come back around in a bullpen role for a potential Game 5, if the Blue Jays need, but thatâ€s a conversation for down the road. The Blue Jays already enter the ALDS with the advantage of setting their rotation fresh with the Yankees coming from the Wild Card Series and have to feel confident with Shane Bieber, the former Cy Young Award winner, leading them into New York for Game 3.

The coming days will tell the real story, but the plans have been laid exactly as the Blue Jays wanted them. This has all been allowed by the progress of Yesavage, who has already flashed dominance and earned the respect of teammates for his demeanor just as much as his big fastball and baffling splitter.

“He seems unfazed by a lot of things,†said George Springer, who knows October as well as anyone on this roster. “I think he’s outwardly calm, and I think that perception for him, it does a lot for us. You would expect somebody to appear nervous, but he doesn’t. And I think that just shows who he is as a player, who he is as a human being.â€

Yesavage is a long way from where he started. Heâ€s a long way from facing the Jupiter Hammerheads, Lakeland Flying Tigers and the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.

Heâ€s finally where he belongs, not at one of the many stops along the way, living out of suitcases in another hotel with an uncertain check-out date. The Blue Jays just keep betting on him, though, and they havenâ€t been wrong yet.

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Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer was left off the Toronto Blue Jays†roster for their AL Division Series against the New York Yankees along with injured shortstop Bo Bichette and right-hander Chris Bassitt.

Scherzer was 1-3 with a 9.00 ERA in his last six starts, including a Sept. 7 loss to the Yankees as New York took advantage of the 41-year-old right-hander tipping pitches with his changeup.

An eight-time All-Star, Scherzer was 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts after agreeing to a one-year, $15.5 million contract. He didnâ€t pitch between March 29 and June 25 because of right thumb inflammation.

He has a 221-117 record with a 3.22 ERA, winning World Series titles with Washington in 2019 and Texas in 2023. Scherzer is 7-8 with a 3.78 ERA in 30 postseason games.

Bichette, second in the major leagues to the Yankees†Aaron Judge with a .311 batting average, hasnâ€t played since Sept. 6, when he sprained his left knee in a collision with Yankees catcher Austin Wells. Bassitt, who was 11-9 and led the Blue Jays in wins, hasnâ€t pitched since Sept. 18 because of lower back inflammation.

Toronto included 13 pitchers, but only Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber and Trey Yesavage, a 22-year-old right-hander who debuted Sept. 15, finished the season in the rotation. Toronto chose four left-handers against lefty-heavy New York: Justin Bruihl, Mason Fluharty, Eric Lauer and Brendon Little.

New York added right-hander Luis Gil, who was set to start Saturdayâ€s opener and dropped right-handed relief Mark Leiter Jr., who was active for the Wild Card Series against Boston but didnâ€t pitch.

The defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers added three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw and left-hander Anthony Banda to the roster for their NL Division Series against Philadelphia while dropping right-hander Edgardo Henriquez.

Kershaw, a 37-year-old, is slated to pitch in relief. The 11-time All-Star says he will retire after the postseason.

Infielder Otto Kemp and outfielder Weston Wilson were on the Phillies†roster and right-handers Jordan Romano and Lou Trivino were left off.

Right-hander Ben Brown was added to the Chicago Cubs†roster against the Milwaukee Brewers and left-hander reliever Taylor Rogers was dropped. Rogers pitched a hitless inning in the Wild Card Series against San Diego.

Milwaukee included hard-throwing rookie right-hander Jacob Misiorowski and left-hander Robert Gasser while leaving off first baseman Rhys Hoskins.

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