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Blue Jays bullpen comes through to punch ALCS ticket

Originally posted on Bluejaysnation
By Tyson Shushkewich | Last updated Oct 9, 2025 8:00 AM ET

The Toronto Blue Jays had their backs against the wall in Game 4 of the ALDS. While the club had an off-day on Tuesday, the early removal of Shane Bieber from Game 3 had taxed the bullpen, and now the Jays were turning to their relief corps once again to not only get them through another game but also help Toronto find a way to clinch the series.

After nine innings at Yankee Stadium, it was the Blue Jays who emerged victorious. Not only had the bats found a way to give the bullpen some run support, but the arms also kept the Yankees’ bats at bay for most of the game, with the Jays clinching an ALCS spot on the back of a 5-2 victory.

The Jays used eight different pitchers to get them through the matchup, five of whom had pitched the day before as well. Manager John Schneider wasn’t kidding when he said every pitcher was available. Had the Jays needed, right-hander Trey Yesavage likely would have been called into action, with Kevin Gausman being saved for a potential Game 5.

Louis Varland was tasked with starting this pivotal matchup, one day after giving up a three-run bomb to Aaron Judge that changed the momentum in Game 3. Varland didn’t throw a bad pitch in that scenario; Judge was just able to put a great swing on the 100 MPH offering. He bounced back with a solid 1 1/3 innings of work, striking out two batters.

Following Varland, the parade of pitchers included Mason Fluharty, Seranthony Dominguez, Eric Lauer, Yariel Rodriguez, Brendon Little, Braydon Fisher, and Jeff Hoffman. Combined, this group allowed just two earned runs off of six hits and six walks but struck out 10 batters, keeping the Yankees off balance for a good portion of the game.

There were some tense moments. Ryan McMahon dunked a Fluharty sweeper into the short porch in right field to tie the game in the second inning, and Hoffman found himself in a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the eighth inning, which he escaped thanks to an Austin Wells flyout to right field. The Yankees couldn’t capitalize on the six free passes.

Phew.

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— Blue Jays Nation (@thejaysnation) October 9, 2025

Usually, when you hear a team is using a bullpen day, you automatically assume the worst. It’s a taxing time for the pen, and essentially, each pitcher just needs to keep passing the baton down the line; if one person drops it, the momentum gets thrown off, and the train can derail off the tracks in a hurry.

Even when the Jays’ relievers found themselves in a jam, they kept bouncing back and keeping the game close, giving the bats something to work with. In return, they gave the pitchers the insurance needed to help seal the deal, even after the likes of Jasson Dominguez and Judge got the Bronx Bombers another run late in the bottom of the ninth inning.

This group will likely change in the ALCS, as the Blue Jays should be adding another starter in the mix at the expense of one of the relievers in this group (Nance or Bruihl, most likely). However, credit is due to the Jays’ bullpen for their performance last night.

When almost every national media pundit or Yankees social media channel called the game an easy win due to the lack of a bona fide starter, the Blue Jays bullpen took the criticism personally and put together a win that has them moving on to the ALCS.

This article first appeared on Bluejaysnation and was syndicated with permission.

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