The 2025 Blue Jays have some big shoes to fill in the American League Division Series

The Toronto Blue Jays have been to the playoffs ten times in team history but have only played in the American League Division Series twice. Partly because the ALDS was first introduced in 1995 and between 1994-2014 the Blue Jays didn't make it to the postseason at all. The other part is that with the expansion of the Wild Card slots, the Blue Jays have had to make it out of the Wild Card round three times in the past four years just to get to the ALDS - failing each time.

But in both 2015 and 2016, the Blue Jays not only made it out of the ALDS, they did so in memorable and exciting fashion with the clinching games being remembered as two of the most exciting games in franchise history.

The 2025 Blue Jays have some big shoes to fill in the American League Division Series

In 2015, the Blue Jays were AL East champions with a 93-69 record, the first time they had claimed the top prize in the division since 1993. Their opponents were the AL West Texas Rangers who finished 88-74, but still had several of the players who had helped them get to the World Series in 2010 and 2011.

It appeared as if Toronto's first playoff appearance in over 20 years was going to be short lived. While the Blue Jays had home field advantage for the first two games, the Rangers came out on top 5-3 in Game One and 6-4 in Game Two in a 14-inning affair. In Game Three Marco Estrada shoved for 6.1 innings, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out four. The Blue Jays put up four runs against Martin Pérez and staved off elimination with a 5-1 victory.

In Game Four the Blue Jays put up a three run first inning, scored a run in the second, and added three more in the third to lead 7-1 after three. R.A. Dickey got into the fifth inning allowing just the one run, while David Price came on and pitched three innings of relief, while giving up three runs. But the Blue Jays had built enough of a cushion that they got out of Texas with an 8-4 win to even the series and go back home with a chance to advance in Game Five.

Game Five produced one of the most electric and thrilling moments in a generation for Blue Jays fans. In the bottom of the seventh inning the Blue Jays trailed 3-2. Russell Martin led off and got on base after an error by shortstop Elvis Andrus.

Kevin Pillar then got on base when the Rangers attempted to turn a double play, but a throwing error by Mitch Moreland put Blue Jays on first and second with nobody out. Dalton Pompey came in to pinch run for Martin. Ryan Goins then laid down a bunt and a third consecutive error occurred as the Rangers tried to get Pompey out at third for the force.

One out later, Josh Donaldson dropped a ball just over the edge of the infield and that brought in a run to tie the game 3-3, but it also led to a force out at second base. Up to the plate stepped José Bautista with two men on and two out and he promptly untied the game with his most iconic moment.

Bautista's three-run home run gave the Blue Jays a 6-3 lead they would not relinquish and Aaron Sanchez and Roberto Osuna combined to pitch the eighth and ninth innings virtually unscathed to send Toronto to the ALCS.

The following year, the Blue Jays were back in the ALDS but not because they were division champions, but thanks to a walk-off home run by Edwin Encarnacion in the American League Wild Card game.

The Blue Jays finished 89-73 in 2016, and played their division rivals, the Orioles, who had the exact same record. After disposing of them in the one-and-done Wild Card Game, the Blue Jays met a familiar opponent in the ALDS for a second straight year.

Once again, Toronto and Texas were the combatants in the ALDS but this time it was the 95-67 Rangers who had home field advantage. It didn't matter much at all. Toronto torched the Rangers 10-1 in the opener, and J.A. Happ outdueled Yu Darvish in Game Two, going five innings and allowing just one earned run while striking out five. The Blue Jays smashed four home runs off Darvish leading to a 5-3 win.

Going home with a 2-0 series lead, the Blue Jays were hoping to put the Rangers to rest and built up a 5-2 lead after three, but the Rangers fought back and led 6-5 going into the bottom of the sixth. The Blue Jays tied the game in the bottom of that inning on a passed ball and things stayed tied 6-6 until the bottom of the 10th.

That's when Donaldson led off with a double and the Rangers intentionally walked Encarnacion to bring up Bautista. But Matt Bush struck out Bautista on a 3-2 pitch, bringing up Martin. Martin hit a groundball to short and the ensuing throw from second was bobbled, leading to a play known as the "Donaldson Dash."

On Saturday, the Blue Jays will play in their first ALDS game since that October 9, 2016 game and we'll see what the 2025 Blue Jays can do in that series. Will we get a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bat flip? Or an Addison Barger sprint to home to walk off a game? Only time will tell as Toronto gets set for what should be a memorable series either way.