Yankees vs Blue Jays: Starting Lineup - ALDS Game One Preview
Photo credit: https://bleacherreport.com/
The New York Yankees take on the Toronto Blue Jays in the first matchup of a five-game American League Division Series showdown at Rogers Centre.
The Blue Jays won eight of the 13 meetings with the Yankees this season.
In those wins, Toronto outscored its rivals 59-31. New York scored the most runs in baseball in 2025, with 849, but in their matchups against the electric Blue Jays hitters, they found it difficult to keep pace.
Toronto led the big leagues in 1461 hits. They were fueled by their offense and its ability to put up runs against all opposition.
Blue Jays veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman is on the bump versus Yankees starter Luis Gil. First pitch is at 4:08 PM ET on Sportsnet and Fox Sports.
Toronto Blue Jays ALDS Starting Lineup
1. DH George Springer
2. RF Nathan Lukes
3. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr
4. 3B Addison Barger
5. C Alejandro Kirk
6. CF Daulton Varsho
7. LF Anthony Santander
8. SS Andres Gimenez
9. 2B Ernie Clement
SP Kevin Gausman
2. RF Nathan Lukes
3. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr
4. 3B Addison Barger
5. C Alejandro Kirk
6. CF Daulton Varsho
7. LF Anthony Santander
8. SS Andres Gimenez
9. 2B Ernie Clement
SP Kevin Gausman
Starting Pitchers Overview
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Friday that Gausman will start Saturday in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Yankees.
Gausman started the team's regular-season finale Sunday and will come back on five days' rest to take the ball in the Blue Jays' first postseason contest.
The right-hander held a 3.59 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 189:50 K:BB over 193 innings this season, and he was particularly good in the second half with a 2.81 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 85:16 K:BB across 83.1 frames.
27-year old Luis Gil was not part of the Yankees' wild-card roster.
The Yankees were good with Max Fried, Carlos Rodon and Cam Schlittler as their three starters in the American League Wild Card Series against the Red Sox, and they decided against including Gil on the roster as a reliever as well.
In his last regular season outing Gil didn't factor into the decision in a win against the Baltimore Orioles, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out two and walking two across five innings.
Blue Jays key players to watch
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has 34 doubles, 23 home runs and 81 walks while batting .292.
George Springer's 32 home runs pace his team. Springer is 17th in home runs and 43rd in RBI among all major league hitters this year.
Springer enters this game looking for his fifth game in a row with a hit. During his last five outings he is hitting .389 with a double, two home runs, four walks and four RBIs.
Ernie Clement is batting .277 with 35 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 27 walks. Clement has at least one base hit in three straight games.
In his last five games he is batting .294 with two doubles, a walk and three RBIs.
Alejandro Kirk is hitting .282 with 18 doubles, 15 home runs and 48 walks. Kirk has recorded at least one hit in two games in a row. During his last five outings he is batting .211 with a double, three home runs, a walk and seven RBIs.
Yankees key players to watch
Aaron Judge leads the squad with a batting average of .331, while pacing the Yankees in home runs, with 53 and runs batted in with 114.
Among all batters in the majors, Judge ranks fourth in home runs and fifth in RBI.
Cody Bellinger has 25 doubles, five triples, 29 home runs and 57 walks while batting .272.
Cody Bellinger has 25 doubles, five triples, 29 home runs and 57 walks while batting .272.
Bellinger is 34th in homers and 17th in RBI among all major league hitters this season.
Trent Grisham has nine doubles, a triple, 34 home runs and 82 walks while batting .235.
Ben Rice has 28 doubles, four triples, 26 home runs and 50 walks while batting .255.
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