WORLD SERIES BOUND.
Kevin Kiermaier joins Tim Mayza as the two 2024 Blue Jays representatives in the World Series
Photo credit: © Jayne Kamin-Oncea - USA Today
Oct 21, 2024, 06:00 EDTUpdated: Oct 21, 2024, 06:02 EDT
There will be a member of the 2024 Toronto Blue Jays who will be crowned a World Series champion.
On Sunday evening, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Mets 10-5, winning the National League Championship Series 4-2. The day prior, the New York Yankees clinched the American League pennant, defeating the Cleveland Guardians 5-2 to win that series 4-1.
In the summer, the Blue Jays designated the longest-serving member of their organization, Tim Mayza, for assignment. After signing a minor league deal with the Yankees, he was called up to the team in mid-August, posting a 4 ERA and a 3.94 FIP in 18 innings pitched. So far this postseason, he’s pitched an inning and a third of scoreless baseball.
Blue Jays DFA Tim Mayza
As for the Dodger representative from the 2024 Blue Jays, Kevin Kiermaier was traded before the trade deadline for Ryan Yarbrough. The centre fielder only had 64 plate appearances after the trade, slashing .203/.242/.322 with one home run. So far this postseason, Kiermaier has only had two plate appearances, scoring two runs in the four games he’s appeared in.
OFFICIAL: We’ve acquired LHP Ryan Yarbrough from the Dodgers in exchange for OF Kevin Kiermaier and cash considerations. Welcome to our #BlueJays family!
Of course, a handful of former Blue Jays are playing on either team. The most notable is Teoscar Hernández, who spent six seasons with the Blue Jays and became a fan favourite. This postseason, Hernándz is slashing .200/.340/.350 with two home runs in 50 plate appearances for a 101 wRC+.
Other former Blue Jays who will head to the World Series with the Dodgers are relievers Daniel Hudson (2019) and Anthony Banda (2022). Moreover, former Blue Jay ace Marcus Stroman is on the Yankees roster. The Blue Jays traded him before the 2019 deadline to the New York Mets. Eventually, he landed with the Chicago Cubs, before signing a deal with the Yankees this past off-season.
In 2024, Stroman had a 4.31 ERA and a 4.62 FIP in 154.2 innings pitched, with a 16.7 K% and an 8.9 BB%. Although he has had some clutch postseason appearances before (think about 2015), he has yet to pitch for the Yankees this postseason.
Game 1 of the 2024 World Series starts on Friday.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.