How do the Blue Jays carry home field advantage into New York as ALDS continues?

The Toronto Blue Jays could not have gotten off to a better start against the New York Yankees in the ALDS. With 23 runs scored between their 10-1 win in Game 1 and 13-7 win in Game 2, the Blue Jays set an MLB record for the most runs in a team's first two postseason games. The offence has been extraordinary. So far, the Blue Jays have the most home runs (8), the fewest strikeouts (7), and the highest batting average (.392) in the postseason.

It's not just the offence that has been firing. Kevin Gausman had a strong start in Game 1, going 5 2/3 innings, giving up four hits, and one run. That included a critical strikeout of Aaron Judge in the sixth inning with the bases loaded. In Game 2, Trey Yesavage exceeded expectations in his fourth-ever MLB start, recording a franchise-record eleven strikeouts in 5 1/3 hitless innings.

How do the Blue Jays carry home field advantage into New York as ALDS continues?

Despite being one game away from the ALCS, the Blue Jays have a tough road ahead of them as the series moves to New York. While the Blue Jays had the second-best home record in the MLB at home during the regular season (54-26), they had the eleventh-best road record (40-41). That includes a 2-4 record at Yankee Stadium.

Tuesday is the second time in a week that Carlos Rodon will take the mound for the Yankees while facing elimination. Last Wednesday, Rodon pitched six innings, giving up three runs, in Game 2 of the Wild Card series between the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees won that game 4-3.

Throughout his career, Rodon has a 2-3 record against the Blue Jays with a 4.72 ERA. That includes two games in 2025. On June 30, Rodon gave up two earned runs on five hits in five innings against the Blue Jays. Toronto won that game 5-4. In his only other start against the Blue Jays, on July 21, Rodon gave up four runs (two earned) on six hits in five innings. The Blue Jays won that game 4-1. However, both of those games were in Toronto.

Getting through Rodon early will be key for the Blue Jays in Game 3. That's something the Blue Jays did very well in the first two games of the series. Luis Gil only lasted 2 2/3 in Game 1, giving up two runs, while Max Fried made it three innings, giving up seven runs in Game 2. For the Blue Jays to do that on Tuesday, they need to run up the pitch count and put the ball in play.

After a difficult September, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has had an exceptional start to the postseason. His home run in the first inning of Game 1 was his first since September 5 and his first-ever in the playoffs.

In Game 2, he hit the first postseason grand slam in Blue Jays history. Guerrero has always been strong against the Yankees. In the regular season, he had a .373 batting average against New York, which is significantly higher than his season average of .292.

Guerrero's career average against current Yankee pitchers is .458, which is higher than his average against any other team. That includes being 10-for-17 against Rodon.

The Blue Jays' success to start the ALDS is owed to a complete team effort, similar to the regular season. Isaiah Kiner-Falefa is the only Blue Jay yet to not get a hit during the postseason. Daulton Varsho has the highest OPS (2.653) so far during the playoffs, with three other Blue Jays appearing in the top ten (Guerrero (3), Alejandro Kirk (6), and Ernie Clement (10).

The bullpen can't be excluded from this either. After Yesavage's incredible start, the bullpen gave up seven runs on ten hits. Seven pitchers took the mound for Toronto after Yesavage's exit. Justin Bruihl and Tommy Nance each gave up two runs on three hits, while Eric Lauer gave up three runs on three hits. The bullpen fared much better on Saturday. Four pitchers didn't give up a run after Gausman left the game.

Should the series continue past Tuesday, it's expected that Game 4 will be a bullpen game for the Blue Jays. Varland has looked strong so far, most notably when he struck out Giancarlo Stanton with the bases loaded in the sixth inning on Saturday. Despite Sunday's struggles, it's probably better for the Blue Jays to give the relievers postseason experience before the stakes are too high.

It's a lot easier to get the postseason nerves out of the way in a home game where the team is leading by ten runs than in New York with a chance to take the series.