NFL
By Billy Lewis:
The New York Yankees faced the Toronto Blue Jays in a playoff series for the first time in franchise history. Both teams finished with identical 94-68 regular-season records. The Blue Jays won the regular season series and were crowned AL East champions.
Toronto was a house of horrors for the Yankees this season. They finished the regular season just 1-6 north of the border. If they had won just one more game during the regular season, the Yankees would have been able to host the ALDS.
Instead, they packed their bags for Toronto and hoped to steal home-field advantage back from the Jays. After receiving stellar starting pitching in the Wild Card round, Aaron Boone pulled Luis Gil after just 2.2 IP. Gil wasn’t as sharp as he could be, but he only gave up two runs, both off solo home runs by Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Alexandro Kirk.
The Yankees’ best chance to turn the tide for the series was in the sixth inning. Aaron Judge came up to bat with the bases loaded and nobody out, down 2-0. Judge, who had a great postseason, had his worst at-bat of the playoffs. Working the count to 3-2, he would chase a Kevin Gausman splitter and strike out.
Cody Bellinger “drove” in the only Yankee run with an RBI walk following Judge. Though it was only Game One, in retrospect, the series was on the line in that moment. Luke Weaver would come in to pitch in the bottom of the seventh, and Toronto’s bludgeoning began.
Weaver would fail to record an out, and the Blue Jays would score 8 more runs against Yankee relievers to win the game 10-1. Max Fried took the ball in Game Two, looking to be the stopper for the Yankees. After a scoreless first, Toronto would once again jump all over Yankee pitching.
They would be up 12-0 after five innings. Scoring an unimaginable 20 consecutive runs in the series, the Yankees were backed against the wall. The Bombers would score seven runs to make it seem like a “half-respectable” 13-7 loss.
New York Yankees Back in the Bronx
Hoping for some Bronx magic, the Yankees came back home for Game Three. Carlos Rodon was not good in his start, and the Yankees had a 6-1 deficit. The Yankees were able to cut it to 6-3, and again Judge found himself up in a big spot. This time, he delivered in a moment that fans hoped would spark a deep run.
Aaron James Judge 🫡#AllRise pic.twitter.com/AoIxdi3z8i
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 8, 2025
Judge’s home run off that foul pole was the catalyst for a Game Three 9-6 win. Jazz Chisholm Jr. would break the 6-6 tie with his first postseason homer of 2025, but that would be one of the last highlights of the Yankees’ season.
All That Jazz. @j_chisholm3 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wvnFTfCO71
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 8, 2025
After a dominant playoff debut against the Red Sox, Cam Schlittler took the ball in Game Four, looking to keep the Yankees’ hopes alive. Though not nearly as dominant, Schlittler still pitched a great game and gave the Yankees a chance to win.
Schlittler took the mound in the seventh, trailing 2-1. The rookie got the first out after a great catch in foul ground by McMahon. He then allowed a single to Ernie Clement, but was able to induce a possible inning-ending double play ball.
Chisholm Jr. couldn’t handle the hotshot by Andres Gimenez, and instead of heading to the bottom of the seventh down 2-1, the Yankees would see their deficit grow to 4-1. They would not have a second night of October magic, and the Blue Jays would celebrate in the Bronx after a 5-2 and 3 games to 1 victory.
What’s Next for the New York Yankees
The mantra for the Yankees is, or at least used to be, “World Series or bust.” If that’s what we want to believe, then 2025 was yet another failure of a season for the Yankees. Without the mantra, it is still a disappointing season for the Yankees. Yes, they won 94 games, but after a World Series appearance in 2024, bowing out in the ALDS is hard to smile about.
Brian Cashman and company have an early start to the offseason to try to make 2026 their first championship season since 2009. Cody Bellinger proved to be a valuable piece to the 2025 Yankees, but he will almost certainly opt out of his player option and become a free agent. Trent Grisham hit a career high of 34 home runs and will also be a free agent.
In a weak outfield free agent class, Bellinger, Grisham, and Kyle Tucker of the Cubs could be three of the most sought-after names. Devin Williams and Luke Weaver are also upcoming free agents. Anthony Volpe struggled for most of 2025, and it will be interesting to see if the Yankees look to upgrade the shortstop position.
Grisham’s career year made the presumed 2025 left fielder, Jasson Dominguez, a platoon player. Dominguez could be looking at 2026 to finally get a full run to show the front office and fans just how talented he is. The Yankees also have Spencer Jones and George Lombard in the minor leagues, who will be chomping at the bit to make the big league roster.
While the Yankees join the rest of us on the couch to watch how the 2025 playoffs play out, Cashman and company should be hard at work looking to be sure 2026 sees another deep October run.
