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Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider explains 'tough decision' to pull Trey Yesavage

Adam Laskaris
Adam Laskaris
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Oct 14 2025, 1:28 am
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider explains 'tough decision' to pull Trey Yesavage
Toronto Blue Jays/X

For the second game in a row, the Toronto Blue Jays will be left wondering how things could’ve been different had their starting pitcher remained in the game.

Trey Yesavage’s outing couldn’t have gotten off to much of a worse start, as he gave up a three-run homer to Julio Rodriguez before even recording an out.

After the rocky beginning, Yesavage got into a bit of a groove, giving up just three hits the rest of the way while recording four strikeouts in the first two innings.

But having thrown more than 80 pitches just once in his previous four major league starts, manager John Schneider and the Blue Jays’ staff opted to call to the bullpen in the fifth inning.

The call came after Yesavage gave up a single and an intentional walk to MVP favourite Cal Raleigh.

“I thought his stuff was pretty similar [to his first playoff start]. You know, his [velocity] went down a little bit as he went. I think that was the biggest thing,” Schneider explained.

“It’s tough to really just continue to churn through bullpen arms… you’re kind of taking it a little bit batter-to-batter there. It didn’t start out great… was a tough decision for sure.”

It didn’t quite pay off: reliever Louis Varland gave up Toronto’s second three-run home run of the day, which saddled Yesavage with five earned runs on the afternoon.

Toronto’s bullpen ended up giving up four more runs, with the final score being 10-3.

Yesavage was hoping to build off a historic first playoff start.

While a few calls might’ve gone against the Blue Jays way, Yesavage didn’t have any interest in blaming home plate umpire Doug Eddings.

“It what it is,” Yesavage said. “At the end of the day, I need to make better pitches.”

In Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, the 22-year-old pitched 5.1 no-hit innings and earning a franchise-record 11 strikeouts in a postseason game.

But Yesavage traditionally hasn’t been that high-volume of a pitcher in his first year as a pro.

As a minor league starter, he faced an average of just 16 batters a night across 25 starts this season, going five innings or more on 10 occasions, and going above 80 pitches on four occasions.

The Jays head to Seattle down 2-0, needing some serious momentum to turn the best-of-seven series around.

“I wouldn’t count this group out. This group is special,” Yesavage added.

Who’s pitching next for the Blue Jays?

Shane Bieber will be the Blue Jays’ Game 3 starter, slated for Wednesday on the road in Seattle, while George Kirby will get the ball for the Mariners.

“I love it. It’s cool. It’s something to embrace,” Bieber said about making his second postseason start on the road this year. “Ultimately it’s [not] many people get the opportunity to pitch in the playoffs, in the ALCS, in what’s going to be a great environment in Seattle, so I’m excited for it.”

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