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.
Matchup To Watch: Aaron Judge vs. Kevin Gausman.
— Tristan (@YankeesFocus) October 3, 2025
In 60 career PAs, Judge has 6 home runs, a 37.9% barrel rate and a .555 xwOBA against Gausman.pic.twitter.com/D5w9Z8Ijks
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).
Daulton Varsho
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) September 26, 2025
First Blue Jays left-handed hitter with a Grand Slam off a left-handed pitcher since Raimel Tapia's inside the park slam at Fenway on July 22, 2022#LightsUpLetsGo pic.twitter.com/mHaiYziYjn
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.
Need this Cody Bellinger to show up to the Bronx tonight. I think he will. pic.twitter.com/jaCBVpqIqt
— Max Mannis (@MaxMannis) September 30, 2025
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
