It’s not do-or-die time quite yet, but it’s close to it, with the Yankees needing to win Game 2 of this ALDS if they want to avoid going back home down 2-0. We’ve seen them bounce back from crushing defeats
many a time this season, and they’ll just have to do it once more. They’ve got the man they want on the mound today, Max Fried toeing the rubber, coming off a stellar start against the Red Sox last round.
Now, here’s the lineup that will back up Fried against Blue Jays rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage:
It’s the same lineup that came up short in yesterday’s 10-1 loss. That game swung in part on the team’s failure to capitalize on a bases-loaded, no-out situation against Toronto starter Kevin Gausman. Outside of their four-run fourth inning against Boston on Thursday (which was aided by shaky Red Sox defense), the lineup has yet to really show its teeth and do significant damage.
Doing real damage is something we all know this group is capable of, and a breakout showing against the young Yesavage would go a long way toward evening this series. In particular, the Yankees just need some of the bats at the top of their order, all of whom had excellent 2025 campaigns, to get going. Trent Grisham has hit .135 with a .435 OPS in these four playoff games, Cody Bellinger .200 with a .517 OPS, and Giancarlo Stanton .067 with a .258 OPS. Aaron Judge has hit .400, but has yet to make a dent with a homer and generated more scrutiny for his flail against Gausman in the sixth inning yesterday. A four-game stretch in the regular season with those numbers from these players wouldn’t register, but in the playoffs, everything is magnified. Another quiet game from the team’s stars would only make the rumblings that much louder.
