#blue-jays

#blue-jays

Except, home plate umpire Mark Wegner blew the call, something that became a common theme throughout the game, and called it strike two instead. The pitch was so far out of the zone that Varsho (rightly) assumed he had been issued a free pass and started to take off his elbow guard. To the surprise of almost everyone, Wegner made a VERY delayed strike call, and everything changed from there.

The Toronto Blue Jays developed a reputation as the comeback kids during the regular season. They did that with an MLB-best 49 come-from-behind wins. That number is also a franchise record. The Blue Jays carried that grittiness into the postseason, tallying another five comebacks in games. The Blue Jays also pulled off a series comeback, beating the Seattle Mariners in Game 7 of the ALCS after trailing 2-0 and 3-2 in the series.

On Wednesday evening, the 22-year-old broke a record, as he recorded 12 strikeouts against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This is the most strikeouts for any rookie pitcher in the World Series. The previous record holder was Dodgers pitcher Don Newcombe, who struck out 11 in the 1949 World Series. Overall, Yesavage finished with seven innings pitched, three hits allowed, one earned run given up, no walks, and 12 strikeouts.

If this postseason has proved anything, it's that the Toronto Blue Jays made the right decision by signing Jeff Hoffman. His career as a starter didn't work out, and in 2021, he joined the Cincinnati Reds as a bulk reliever who could make a start every once in a while. Hoffman's 2022 with the Reds was solid, but it wasn't until 2023 with the Philadelphia Phillies that Hoffman became a high-leverage reliever.

Schneider was back in the lineup on Wednesday evening as Snell returned for his second start of the series, but this time he was used as the leadoff hitter in place of the ailing George Springer. While some fans questioned the decision on social media before the game, the former 28th-round pick quickly silenced any doubters with a solo home run against Snell on the very first pitch of the game.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider made several moves to his starting lineup for Saturday's Game 2 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Infielder Bo Bichette, who made his first game appearance in seven weeks in Toronto's 11-4 Game 1 win, was available off the bench. Isiah Kiner-Falefa got the start at second base with outfielders Nathan Lukes and Addison Barger drawing in for Davis Schneider and Myles Straw.