Who has the upper hand at each position between the Blue Jays and Yankees in the ALDS

How do both teams fare at each position in the ALDS between the Blue Jays and Yankees?
Sep 7, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) slides to steal 2nd base against Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement (22) during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Smith-Imagn Images
Sep 7, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) slides to steal 2nd base against Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement (22) during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Smith-Imagn Images | Mark Smith-Imagn Images
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Right field - Nathan Lukes vs Aaron Judge

Let's just keep this simple. The two-time AL MVP, Judge, is a slight favorite to win his third award, so he holds the obvious advantage in the ALDS. Although Lukes has been instrumental this season, filling in while Anthony Santander has been out with a shoulder injury.

Lukes is 31 years old, but completed his first full season in MLB. Over 438 plate appearances, he hit 12 home runs, 55 runs, and 65 runs batted in. Lukes has a solid arm in right field, ranking in the 96th percentile for arm strength, which will keep base runners hesitant to run on him.

Advantage: Yankees

Center field - Daulton Varsho vs Trent Grisham

This may be the only matchup that could go either way. Varsho has never been an on-base hitter, but he generates a ton of power. He battled injuries all season long and only logged 271 plate appearances this season, but if he were healthy all season, then the 29-year-old would have set multiple career highs.

This season, he hit 20 home runs and 55 runs batted in. Although it was 321 plate appearances short of 2022’s total, where he set a career high in home runs (27) and RBIs (74).  

Grisham will likely be in the lead-off spot in the batting order due to there being mostly righties in the Blue Jays' pitching staff. He exploded this season for a career high in home runs (34) and RBIs (74).

He has a great eye at the plate, drawing 82 walks. He's struggled in his four postseason trips, hitting only .169/.231/.250 with a .481 OPS and only three home runs over 90 plate appearances.

Advantage: Blue Jays

Left field - Anthony Santander vs. Cody Bellinger

Santander made his return to MLB after missing the majority of the season with a shoulder injury. Before his injury, he struggled, hitting .175/.271/.294 with only six home runs over 209 plate appearances. The Blue Jays are hoping Santander can return to his 2024 form, where he set career highs in home runs (44) and RBIs (102) while with the Baltimore Orioles.

Bellinger had a strong regular season, hitting 29 home runs and 98 RBIs, his most since 2019. He's been a reliable bat in the middle of the Yankees’ batting order and has seven years of postseason experience, with the previous six coming with the Los Angeles Dodgers, although he hasn't been a massive contributor, only hitting nine home runs in 279 plate appearances, but has knocked in 33 runners.

Advantage: Yankees

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