Three former Blue Jays have punched their ticket to the World Series
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Photo credit: © Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
Tyson Shushkewich
Oct 20, 2024, 10:00 EDTUpdated: Oct 20, 2024, 13:47 EDT
The Toronto Blue Jays have been on the golf course for weeks, however, three former members are heading to the World Series after the New York Yankees punched their ticket yesterday, defeating the Cleveland Guardians through five games.
First and foremost is left-hander Tim Mayza, who joined the Yankees earlier this summer after he was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays after a dismal start to the 2024 campaign. Mayza latched on with the Yankees and after a stint in the minors, joined New York on the active roster in mid-August. Before the postseason, Mayza posted a 4.00 ERA through 15 outings – allowing eight earned runs through 18 innings while striking out 12.
This October, Mayza has been used twice out of the bullpen and has allowed just two hits and two walks through 1 1/3 innings while striking out one batter, Kyle Isbel on the Kansas City Royals during the ALDS. The southpaw made one appearance in the ALDS and ALCS.
Joining Mayza in the World Series is former starter and first-round pick Marcus Stroman, who spent parts of six seasons in Toronto.
In his first campaign with the Yankees, the right-hander struggled to live up to his previous regular season numbers, posting a 4.31 ERA through 154 2/3 innings. He finished the year with a 1.47 WHIP and opponents authored a .277 batting average while Stroman amassed a 6.58 K/9 – his lowest single-season mark since his 2015 season where he made just four starts after tearing his ACL in Spring Training.
Stroman was left off the ALDS roster and was put back on the ALCS lineup when the series was moved to seven games. He has not made an appearance in the postseason so far.
Rounding out the group is right-hander Mark Leiter Jr., whose Blue Jays tenure lasted all of eight games in the 2018 campaign. With Toronto, he posted a 13.50 ERA through 6 2/3 innings.
This season, Leiter Jr. split his time with the Yankees and the Chicago Cubs, with the Cubs trading the right-hander to New York at the deadline. He authored a collective 4.50 ERA through 60 appearances out of the bullpen to the tune of a 1.33 WHIP and a career-high 13.34 K/9.
Leiter Jr. was left off the initial ALDS and ALCS roster announcements but was added on October 18th in place of Ian Hamilton, who injured his calf earlier in the series. The right-hander made appearances in both Game 4 and Game 5 in the series, allowing two hits, three walks, and one earned run through 2 1/3 innings collectively.