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Toronto Blue Jays announce surprise starting pitcher for Game 2 against Yankees

Trevor Beggs
Trevor Beggs
|
Oct 4 2025, 4:36 pm
Toronto Blue Jays announce surprise starting pitcher for Game 2 against Yankees
Denny Medley/Imagn Images

The Toronto Blue Jays just revealed their starting pitcher for Game 2 against the New York Yankees on Sunday at Rogers Centre.

And, the Jays’ Game 2 starter was 12 years old the last time Toronto hosted an ALDS game at home.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider announced on Saturday morning that Trey Yesavage will start Game 2 for the team. The 22-year-old will be making his first postseason start, and just his fourth career MLB start.

There’s surprise in Schneider’s decision from the perspective that Yesavage was pitching High-A baseball for the Vancouver Canadians four months ago.

However, with the team clearly planning on using him as a starter, giving the rookie the home start instead of playing at Yankee Stadium seems like a prudent decision.

The Yankees are doing the same with their star rookie pitcher, Cameron Schlittler, who will start Game 4 (if necessary) at home for New York. Schlittler just shut out the Boston Red Sox in the Yankees’ Wild Card clinching win on Thursday.

Schneider also announced that Shane Bieber will get the start in Game 3 for the Blue Jays.

Pitchers Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt were left off the Blue Jays’ ALDS roster. That comes as a bit of a surprise, although Bassitt was dealing with back inflammation last month.

blue-jays-scherzer

Unless there’s an injury, Max Scherzer won’t play for Toronto in the ALDS. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

Scherzer was the most experienced pitcher on the roster, as the 41-year-old has won two World Series, while pitching in 30 career playoff games total. However, both Scherzer (6.28 ERA) and Bassitt (3.80 ERA) struggled against the Yankees this season.

So, instead of a 41-year-old pitcher with two championships under his belt, it’s a 22-year-old rookie who will get the spotlight on Sunday for the Blue Jays.

Schneider also added that, with Scherzer and Bassitt not on the roster, Game 4 could include appearances from pitchers like Louis Varland and Eric Lauer, per Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith. Kevin Gausman would likely take the mound if the series goes to Game 5.

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