“Let’s get weird.”
It was the idea of New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
Given the odds against them, a little quirkiness might be just what the Yankees need to get past the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Division Series.
After being blown out twice at Rogers Center, the Yankees face the end of their season in Game 3 Tuesday night in the over-five series. Lose and stay home. Win and return to the stadium for Game 4 – another chance to avoid elimination.
The Blue Jays are one step away from advancing to the AL Championship Series for the first time since 2016. Historically, teams that win the first two games of a five-game playoff series take the set 89% of the time. The Yankees are clinging to 11 percent, but Boone says all is not lost.
“Baseball is a funny game,” Boone told reporters after falling 13-7 in Game 2. “I know we’ll show up and we’ll be ready to go, expecting you to win on Tuesday night. Obviously, I feel like the world is throwing around you, you lose two games like this in their building where it’s not doing well.
“There have been a lot of strange things happening in baseball this year. This wouldn’t be the strangest.”
The Yankees, strangely, are the most recent team to make such a comeback. In 2017 – with rookie Aaron Judge in the lineup – they came back to beat Cleveland in the ALDS after dropping the first two games. Joe Girardi was the manager then, and Judge is the only player left from that roster (aside from bullpen coach Mike Harkey).
“We’ve been here before,” the judge said. “I even go back to my rookie year in 18th grade.
Elsewhere in the ALDS, the Seattle Mariners visit the Detroit Tigers with this series tied 1-1. But for the Yankees, there is no margin for error.
Playing the next two games at Yankee Stadium might help. New York has gone 50-31 at home this season, including a 4-2 mark against the Blue Jays.
Carlos Rodón will start Game 3 for New York. While he doesn’t have a spotless postseason record, he’s been a top-20 starter in MLB since 2015. Rodón’s postseason experience and lefty power stuff make him the Yankees’ best hope to extend the series.
The Yankees offense finally showed its life in Game 2, outscoring Toronto 7-1 in the sixth inning. This surge could be a sign of momentum, as the team looks to shake off a sluggish .244/.293/.339 slash line.
Shane Bieber gets the ball for the Blue Jays. He returned from Tommy John surgery this season and posted a 3.57 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings. The 2020 Cy Young winner has faced the Yankees twice in the postseason, most recently in 2022 when he held them to two runs in 5 2/3 innings in the Bronx.
“Anticipating a ton of energy, both positive and negative,” Bieber said of the Yankee Stadium crowd. “For me, fortunately, I’ve done it before. But really, I put myself in the best position to succeed when I embrace it. I’ve tried to learn how to do it, and it’s just an incredible opportunity.”
If the Yankees Force Game 4, rookie Cam Schlittler is expected to start. The right-hander dominated the Red Sox in the wild-card round, pitching eight scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts.
And if the series reaches Game 5, it will return to Toronto – but the pressure, as Boone noted, will even be off.
New York has already stared elimination in the face of these playoffs. With their season on the line in the Wild Card Round, Rodón delivered six innings of three-run ball against Boston to keep the Yankees alive. Against Toronto during the regular season, Rodón posted a 3.60 ERA over two starts but struggled with command, walking eight in 10 innings.
The bullpen has been more of a concern. Yankees relievers have allowed 17 earned runs in 17 postseason innings, giving up five home runs and seven walks. Still, Boone has options – top-spin weapons like David Bednar, Devin Williams, Camilo Doval and Tim Hill have been solid when called upon.
As Judge said, the Yankees chased the Blue Jays all year, from the Al East run to the playoffs. Toronto has handled New York for most of the season, going 10-5, including this series.
“We haven’t lost confidence,” Boone said. “Obviously they’ve had our number and have had the upper hand on us so far this year, but I don’t think there’s anyone in our room that doesn’t feel like they can’t go out and beat them.
“We’ve got to play better. We’ve got to throw it and swing it better. But we’re certainly capable of it, and we expect to do it Tuesday night.”
It’s going to take a historical return – and, as Boone said, things would have to get a little weird to make it real.
