But here there are and it's thanks in part to a couple of shrewd moves by GM Ross Atkins, including the acquisitions of Max Scherzer and Shane Bieber. Now, with their backs against the wall, the fate of the Blue Jays season rests on the shoulders of these two household names - guys that may only be wearing Blue Jays jerseys for one season or less.
The game is scheduled for 7:08pm local time, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2.49 ERA) on the bump opposite Freddy Peralta (2.70 ERA). Yamamoto dominated the Reds in the Wild Card series with two runs (zero earned) and nine strikeouts across 6 2/3 innings of work, but he didn't fare quite as well against the Phillies in the NLDS as he surrendered three runs in four innings of work.
The Dodgers were the only club who had to advance through the wild card round, and the reigning World Series champs aren't exactly underdogs. In fact, all of the Brewers, Mariners, and Blue Jays had a lot more questions to answer about their playoff readiness given a recent lack of postseason success, yet all three teams were up to the task in winning their League Championship Series matchups.
Toronto is all fired up about the Blue Jays. On wednesday night, the Blue Jays advanced to the American League Championship Series (ALCS) for the first time since 2016 after they defeated the New York Yankees 5-2 in Game 4 of the ALDS. The Blue Jays have had an incredible season, winning the AL East, and now, they eliminated a hated rival in the Yankees on their own home turf.
Reminders of the New York Yankees' rich history can be spotted at every turn in and around Yankee Stadium. Babe Ruth banners hang outside the venue. Hallways are loaded with framed pictures of pinstriped legends. When Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider entered the stadium's news conference room Monday on the eve of Game 3, he walked past several 10-foot magazine posters featuring all-time Yankee greats.