The Toronto Blue Jays silenced their postseason demons on Saturday when they beat the Yankees 10-1, taking the first game of the ALDS. It was their first October win since 2016, having been swept in their last three AL Wild Card series dating back to 2020, and the Jays fanbase was firing on all cylinders heading into the second game at the Rogers Centre.

Heading to the mound was Trey Yesavage, a right-hander who started the 2025 season in Single-A Dunedin, his first year in professional baseball. The East Carolina alum didn’t pitch following the 2024 MLB Draft, and the Pennsylvania product bullrushed his way to the big leagues in September, making three starts with the Jays to cap off the regular season.

Facing the Rays twice and the Royals, Yesavage crafted a 3.21 ERA across 14 innings, allowing five earned runs off 13 hits and seven walks while striking out 16, holding opponents to a .236 average while posting a 1.43 WHIP.

Considering he made just three starts before appearing in a postseason game, it makes sense that nerves and doubt may filter in with the 22-year-old taking the mound. However, when the dust settled, it was one of the most impressive appearances in franchise postseason history from a starting pitcher.

Yesavage started the contest by striking out three of the four batters he faced, with an Aaron Judge walk being his only blemish in the first inning. Fast forward to the sixth inning, and Yesavage left the game to a curtain call from the Jays faithful, with the starter logging 5 1/3 innings and 11 strikeouts, giving up zero hits in his first postseason start. His 11 punchouts set a franchise record for postseason K’s, and he kept the Yankees bats at bay for the majority of the outing, striking out six batters in a row at one point in the game.

It was one of the most dominant starts in postseason history for a Blue Jays pitcher, and set the stage for the Blue Jays to not only get ahead in the game, but also the series. The bats gave him the support he needed, putting up 12 runs before he was lifted in the sixth inning, and he left with a no-hitter intact (before Justin Bruihl ruined it a few batters later).

Overall, it was a risky gamble to have a rookie pitcher start an ALDS game against a potent offensive lineup such as the Yankees, but Yesavage was able to use his fastball, splitter, and slider effectively to keep the bats off balance.

Yesavage might not have the most experience in the big leagues, but he showcased what he can do when the lights shine the brightest on the big league stage.

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