Blue Jays should perhaps listen to a Hall of Fame pitcher when it comes to making pitching decisions

How a starter is utilized in an MLB game, especially during the postseason, could often be the difference between winning and losing. At least that is what MLB on FOX lead analyst and Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz truly believes is the case.

In a recent segment on the Dan Patrick Show, Smoltz gave his two cents on the potential downfalls of teams not allowing their starting pitchers to go deeper in games. He believes that managers that actually trusted their starters to go above and beyond have been pleasantly rewarded for the most part this postseason.  

Blue Jays should perhaps listen to a Hall of Fame pitcher when it comes to making pitching decisions

That hindsight has certainly held true for the Toronto Blue Jays and their unnecessary early hooks to their starting pitchers so far in the 2025 MLB Playoffs. Dating back to the ALDS against the New York Yankees, Trey Yesavage in Game 2 and Shane Bieber in Game 3 were both lifted quite earlier than expected.

The Blue Jays managed to avoid the consequences in Game 2 despite a late seven-run surge by the Yankees since they had built up an extensive lead. However, they paid dearly in Game 3 when New York jumped all over the Blue Jays bullpen once again to come from behind and defeat Toronto 9-6.

In Game 2, Yesavage was having the game of his life and was only at 78 pitches before Jays Manager John Schneider gave him the hook. What resulted was a huge shift in momentum to the Yankees, one that carried over into Game 3 and nearly changed the entire series around.

In addition, Bieber was removed in Game 3 after only 2.2 innings pitched with his team still up 6-3 at the time and having only thrown 54 pitches. If he managed to get out of the third inning, who knows if that confidence would have carried with him further into the game and potentially lead to a Jays sweep.

Instead, it gave the Yankees life and forced Toronto to scrape and claw their way to victory in Game 4 to seal the deal.

But now in the ALCS, the early hook by Schneider on the Jays’ starters have backfired big time. In fact, the detrimental effect actually took place immediately in both the first two games of the series.

With ace Kevin Gausman cruising in Game 1 of the ALCS and at just 76 pitches, he was promptly removed after just a solo home run to Cal Raleigh of all people and a walk to Julio Rodríguez. In came reliever Brendon Little and a wild pitch later, he would quickly give up the go-ahead, game-winning run on a Jorge Polanco single. 

In Game 2 of the ALCS, with Yesavage settling his game down after a disastrous first inning, he was lifted after a single and an intentional walk to Raleigh in the fifth inning. At the time he was only at 70 pitches as well and still had the stuff to potentially hold the Mariners at bay.

However, Louis Varland would come in and promptly give up the game-changing three-run homer to who else but Polanco once again to make it 6-3, a lead the Jays were ultimately unable to overcome.

Smoltz may be away from the game for over a decade and a half after retiring. But with 481 career MLB starts in his distinguished resume, along with being a former Cy Young winner and World Series champion as a starter, let’s just say he knows exactly how to be successful at winning in the big leagues.

So if he says letting the starters go deeper in games will pay dividends, those that are wise should consider taking his advice. Especially when you don’t have an infallible bullpen like Toronto has.

With that in mind, let’s see if Schneider and the Blue Jays can make any adjustments with their pitching decisions in the upcoming games in the ALCS before it’s too late.