Why the Blue Jays' trade deadline plans are playing out perfectly as they lead ALDS

The Toronto Blue Jays lead the Yankees 2-0, thanks to an offensive explosion and dominant pitching. With a World Series trip in mind, they dealt top prospects Khal Stephen, Kendry Rojas, and Juaron Watts-Brow, along with outfielder Alan Roden, for Seranthony Domínguez, Louis Varland, and Shane Bieber. Domínguez and Varland have already excelled in this series, with Bieber ready for Game 3.

Why the Blue Jays' trade deadline plans are playing out perfectly

In Game 1, Varland entered in the top of the sixth inning with bases loaded and two outs. Kevin Gausman had just walked Cody Bellinger with the bases loaded to allow the Yankees to move one run closer in a 2-1 ball game.

Varland faced Giancarlo Stanton, but struck him out on four pitches. The 27-year-old would start the seventh inning off by getting Jazz Chisholm Jr. to ground to Andrés Giménez at shortstop, and allowed a single to Ryan McMahon. Domínguez would then enter to close out the inning by striking out Anthony Volpe and getting Austin Wells to ground out to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first base.

In Game 2, the two relievers were called upon to close out the 13-7 Blue Jays’ lead. Varland pitched in the eighth inning, getting McMahon and Volpe to both ground out to himself, and got Paul Goldschmidt to ground out to Ernie Clement at third.

Domínguez was brought in for the ninth inning, struck out Trent Grisham and Stanton, and got Bellinger to ground out to Giménez at shortstop. The only flaw was walking both Aaron Judge and Ben Rice.

Varland had struggled in the second half of the season, posting a 4.82 ERA over 28 innings, although in seven of his last eight outings in the regular season, he allowed zero earned runs. The righty is showing he was worth the hefty trade cost.

He has thrown 17 strikes on 26 pitches while touching 101 mph on his four-seam fastball. Domínguez has been outstanding in the second half of the season, especially in September and October, posting a 2.16 ERA over 8 1/3 innings and holding batters to a .172 batting average off of him.

The Blue Jays now turn to possibly their best starting pitcher in Game 3, Bieber, which is hard to believe after the stellar performances from Gausman and Trey Yesavage in Games 1 and 2. Bieber’s last postseason experience came in 2022 when the Cleveland Guardians lost 3-2 in the ALDS series with the Yankees. In that series, he allowed two earned runs off a Stanton home run over 5 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts, but walked three batters.

However, this season, the 30-year-old has only seven starts under his belt because of a late August return rehabbing after the Tommy John surgery he had in April 2024. He's been shaky in his return, allowing at least one earned run, and has given up at least one home run in six of the seven starts. With how well the Blue Jays have been hitting, the team needs Bieber to hold the Yankees to a run or two.

The Blue Jays gave up a top pitching prospect, Stephen, for this moment. Having a former ace on the mound to send the team into the ALCS and await either the Seattle Mariners or Detroit Tigers, as the one seed, the Blue Jays will hold home-field advantage.

Carlos Rodon has been hittable lately, giving up three earned runs to the Boston Red Sox. The Blue Jays will hope to gain a sweep and sit back to watch how the other ALDS plays out.