Toronto Blue Jays decide on starting pitcher for bullpen-led Game 4
Toronto Blue Jays fans’ celebrations on Tuesday night turned out to be a little bit premature.
Up 6-1 in the third inning in a possible elimination game for the New York Yankees, Blue Jays fans might’ve already been planning out what it’d be like to head back to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2016.
But eight straight runs from the Yankees completely flipped the script of the series, with the home side coming away with a 9-6 victory.
The Jays’ loss was historic in all sorts of ways they probably wouldn’t have liked. As per Opta Stats, the Yankees were the first team ever to be on the verge of being swept and down by five or more runs that ended up coming back to win the ballgame.
The @Yankees are the first team in MLB postseason history to be down by 5+ runs and in danger of being swept and come back to win the game.
Teams had been 0-38 all-time when trailing by 5+ runs and trying to avoid a multi-game series sweep. pic.twitter.com/wDmDLxYnjL
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) October 8, 2025
But for Toronto manager John Schneider, he’s not hanging his head over the loss.
“I got all the confidence in the world in these guys showing up [Wednesday] ready to go and just doing their normal day, and competing their asses off,” he said postgame.
Toronto can still clinch a series win with either a Game 4 or 5 victory, the latter of which would be played back in Toronto on Friday.
“These guys will be ready to go… You have to have to take out the outside noise that comes from playing [in New York],” he added.
Schneider opted to pull starting pitcher Shane Bieber while up 6-3 in the third inning, after just 54 pitches.
“You’re trying to take chances to win, and it just didn’t work out,” Schneider explained.
Louis Varland will be starting for the Blue Jays on Wednesday, as per Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi. Varland gave up two runs and was saddled with the loss in one inning of work in Game 3.
The Blue Jays are expected to use a combination of relievers in Game 4, while New York will be going with Cam Schlittler.
“Everyone’s available [to pitch in Game 4],” Schneider added.
John Schneider says that everyone is available to pitch for the Blue Jays tomorrow: pic.twitter.com/0zIf8cmWp5
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) October 8, 2025
If Toronto loses on Wednesday night, either Kevin Gausman or Trey Yesavage will be the expected starter for a Friday Game 5 at the Rogers Centre.