Yankees feel – After last season’s postseason exit and a regular-season tiebreaker, the Yankees enter a crucial stretch against the Blue Jays with an edge fueled by frustration and unfinished business—especially after a turbulent road trip and a nervy late inning Monday win.
Champagne soaked the carpets of the visitors clubhouse the last time the Toronto Blue Jays were in the Bronx. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. screamed “DAAAAA YANKEES LOSE” on national television as the Blue Jays celebrated like they were dancing over the graves of the New York Yankees’ 2025 season.
That memory didn’t fade in the off-season.
The Yankees haven’t forgotten how last season went against this American League East rival. They finished 6-11 versus Toronto, including the postseason. In the regular season, a 5-8 record against the Blue Jays cost them the tiebreaker to win the division. The teams still ended with the same 94-68 record. but the Yankees had to start the postseason in the Wild Card Series instead of getting a bye into the AL Division Series.
Now, with another set of games beginning to stack up, the feeling around the clubhouse has a familiar shape: every opponent matters, but this one carries extra weight.
“Every game is very important. but there are situations where we should lock in — not that we aren’t locked in. but being aware that there’s maybe a little more to it. ” Yankees starter Cam Schlittler said. “I think this is one of those series. The same with Tampa (this weekend) as well. We went to their place and easily could have taken two out of three. We didn’t. So, it’s frustrating. I think we’re in a good position to make a good run here and take these two series as a momentum shift.”.
That shift can’t come on vibes alone. The Yankees entered this four-game series against the Blue Jays scuffling. They went 2-7 on their nine-game road trip and ended it with major concerns.
One of those concerns kept showing up at the end of games.
Monday night. closer David Bednar needed 36 pitches to get three outs in the ninth inning. but he held on for a 7-6 comeback win over the Blue Jays. The tension hit immediately at Yankee Stadium when Bednar walked Ernie Clement to lead off the ninth. Jesús Sánchez followed with an RBI double that cut the Yankees’ lead in half. Then Bednar walked Yohendrick Piñango, and the crowd’s nerves tightened further—before he buckled down.
He struck out George Springer and got Guerrero to ground out to end the game.
It was survival after another shaky moment a day earlier.
The Yankees’ closer blew the save Sunday against the New York Mets by allowing a three-run home run to Tyrone Taylor. It was his second blown save of the road trip. After giving up a run Monday. Bednar has allowed at least one run in 11 of 21 games this season. which is tied with St. Louis Cardinals reliever Matt Svanson for the most in MLB.
Still, the organization is leaning on one belief about him: he doesn’t lose his grip.
“One of the things we love about him is he’s not flappable,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Bednar. “No matter what’s going on, you trust who he is.”
The Yankees also needed their offense to do more than just keep pace.
Second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. had been one of the season-long concerns, but he has started to produce at the plate. He came through in the seventh inning Monday after Cody Bellinger’s two-run blast by hitting a two-run homer of his own. The ball ricocheted off the left-field foul pole and gave the Yankees a 7-5 lead.
Chisholm tied his turnaround to something oddly specific: he credited it to wearing Giancarlo Stanton’s two-sizes-too-big pants and using José Caballero’s bat.
Still, the motivation goes deeper than equipment.
Chisholm spent the offseason thinking about his error in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Blue Jays. The Yankees were trailing 2-1 in the seventh inning when his error cost them two runs. The damage buried their season.
He said he hopes this year feels different when the Yankees face the Blue Jays.
“Especially losing to them in the playoffs, we gotta have a different mindset when it comes to them,” Chisholm said. “Every time we see them, we have that feeling. At least I do, for sure. I know a couple of other guys in the clubhouse have that feeling of, like, we owe you something. We’re gonna show you what we’ve got.”.
The scoreboard outside the stadium is also part of the pressure.
This is a pivotal week for New York. The Yankees will play seven consecutive games against the Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays. the AL East leader by three games. New York has a chance this week to make Toronto’s attempt to crawl back into the division race feel close to impossible. After the Blue Jays’ loss Monday. they’re 10 1/2 games back of the Rays and 7 1/2 games back of the Yankees for second place.
Schlittler framed it as more than routine division games—especially after last season.
He said he couldn’t wait to pitch Wednesday against the Blue Jays after not being his sharpest against them in the postseason last year. Earlier on Monday, he appeared on a New York Post podcast and said he hoped his teammates had a “fire under everyone’s ass” heading into this series.
He walked it back slightly when asked, but not on the intent.
“It wasn’t (specifically saying) that everyone has a fire under their ass,” Schlittler said. “I was just implying that they should. I think. regardless of the situation of playing them. I think how the road series played out last week. that’s enough for (his teammates) to have an edge. At least, for me, it’s frustrating.
“It’s a good motivator to get back home after a pretty long road trip and just lock in with playing a division opponent that ended our season last year. I think it’s a good way to put ourselves in a position to get on a roll and take momentum into the rest of the series and against Tampa as well.”
A ninth inning that took 36 pitches. A bullpen that’s been under stress. An offense that found its swing at exactly the right time. And a reminder—loud, televised, unforgettable—that the Blue Jays haven’t just beaten the Yankees.
They’ve made them feel something they can’t wash off with regular-season optimism.
New York Yankees Toronto Blue Jays AL East David Bednar Cam Schlittler Jazz Chisholm Jr. Aaron Boone Vlad Guerrero Jr. ALDS Game 4 Wild Card Series
So the Yankees are mad again… love the drama.
I don’t get why everyone keeps bringing up the locker room thing like that’s gonna help on the field. If they’re chasing payback, maybe just hit the ball??
Guerrero screaming that sounds legendary but didn’t the Yankees win some of those? Also they say 6-11 and postseason but I swear I remember a different postseason matchup? idk
Champagne on the carpet is crazy lol. But honestly Toronto always plays like they’re supposed to win in NY, and New York always acts surprised when they lose. The tiebreaker part is what got me—so they basically got punished for one stretch and now it’s like revenge season??