Toronto’s two-game ALDS blitz of the Yankees wasn’t merely a win; it was a statement. A 23-8 rout, swagger on the bases, and a bedazzled home-run jacket turned the Rogers Centre into a festival and sent a clear message to New York and its backers that the moment belongs to Toronto.

Vladdy Jr. capped the night with a towering grand slam off Will Warren, while 22-year-old Trey Yesavage piled up 11 strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. The Jays chased Max Fried in the fourth and answered with curtain calls that amplified their rotation and bullpen plans as the series shifts to New York.

With the series headed east, the Yankees must answer quickly. Can they flip the script or will Toronto’s momentum extend into an offseason-long memory of collapse?

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. delivered a playoff‑caliber blow for Toronto, blasting a grand slam off Will Warren with the bases loaded to underscore his late‑season timing and postseason poise. He sits at a scorching .833 in the series with a 2.464 OPS after a prior skid, proving his bat can erupt when it matters most.

The Rogers Centre crowd fed the energy as Toronto leaned on depth and discipline, while Trey Yesavage’s unusual high‑arm delivery unsettled New York and Max Fried’s hiccup reinforced the Jays’ offensive approach. One game remains for the Yankees to stave off elimination, but Toronto’s surge feels real and self‑contained.

The Yankees lean into a tight platoon at first base for the postseason, with Goldschmidt facing lefties and Rice handling righties. Goldschmidt leads off in Game 1 while Rice sits, a matchup plan Boone says will stay in effect across the series.

Goldschmidt hit .336 with a .981 OPS vs lefties in the regular season, though his production cooled after June 1; Rice posted a September surge (.316/.932 OPS) and brings catcher versatility to the roster. Boone’s roster builds depth with Warren on the 26-man roster and Escarra’s flexibility behind the plate, while Slater misses the cut.

With only one left-hander in the bullpen (Tim Hill) after Blackburn over Yarbrough and Headrick, the club leans on flexible matchups and bench options. Boston’s potential Game 3 lefties—Early or Harrison—keep the door open for additional depth. Fantasy managers should track daily lineup shifts and late-inning leverage opportunities tied to starter assignments.