Blue Jays starting with an opener in Game 4 for possible Yankees benefit

Yankees vs. Blue Jays: Game 4 Preview

On Wednesday, the Yankees will face off against Cam Schlittler of the Blue Jays, who will be relying heavily on their relief pitchers.

In their last game, the Yankees enjoyed a significant advantage, as they forced the Blue Jays to use six out of ten relief pitchers. This shift turned a manageable 5-point lead into a nail-biting 9-6 victory at Yankee Stadium.

Lewis Burland, a powerful right-hander who launched a crushing three-run homer to Aaron Judge the night before, is slated to start in Game 4. This will be a crucial moment as the Blue Jays scramble to put together their lineup in response.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider commented, “We aimed to seize the chance to win today, but it didn’t pan out. Everyone’s got to be ready for tomorrow.”

Initially, the Blue Jays had planned to go with starters Kevin Gorseman, Trey Yesavage, and Shane Bieber in the first three games. But they ended up opting for a greater number of relief pitchers rather than sticking with their intended starter for Game 4, either Max Scherzer or Chris Bassitt.

Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, the Yankees managed to take Bieber out in just two-thirds of an inning, leading to the early mobilization of most of the Blue Jays’ bullpen.

This recent game followed a situation where the Blue Jays used seven different relief pitchers after Yesavage pitched in Game 2. “I know how that bullpen game goes. They’re probably prepared for tomorrow,” Schneider remarked, acknowledging the situation with Bieber’s early exit.

Manager Aaron Boone was considering starting Paul Goldschmidt at first base instead of Ben Rice, yet opted for the younger player this time around, likely hoping for a spark in the lineup.

This choice demonstrated Boone’s faith in Rice’s ability, which he felt could change the momentum with just one good swing. Before the game ended, Rice managed a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning that helped extend the Yankees’ lead to 9-6, although Goldschmidt took over first base in the next inning.

Boone is looking to include a fourth right-hander in the Yankees’ lineup for Game 4, aiming for a more balanced approach in their strategy against the Blue Jays’ pitching. This could mean Goldschmidt gets the start, or perhaps Amed Rosario, who pinch-hit in the third inning and came through with a double in the fifth.