Blue Jays: Trey Yesavage will have a short leash in Game 6 of ALCS

It all comes down to this.

On Sunday evening, perhaps early on Monday morning, the Toronto Blue Jays will know whether it’s time to head to Cancún or force a winner-take-all Game 7 on Monday against the Seattle Mariners.

This situation, Game 6 to save a season, is a huge spot for any pitcher. Even more so for the pitcher that the Jays will turn on Sunday evening, rookie Trey Yesavage. Drafted 20th overall, Yesavage began his professional journey this season in Single-A.

Joining the Blue Jays late in the year, the 22-year-old will make just his sixth start of his big league career. Talk about trial by fire. The question is, what will be the game plan for the young right-handed pitcher?

Of his five big league starts, two have been in the postseason. The first was fantastic, as he went five and one-third innings of no-hit ball, striking out 11 New York Yankees in the process. His second game, Game 2 of the American League Championship Series, didn’t go as well, as Yesavage hit and walked the first two batters he saw, then gave up a three-run blast from Julio Rodríguez.

He settled down after that, a great sign, but was tagged with two more earned runs in the top of the fifth as a soft grounder and an intentional walk led to two runners on and no outs. Louis Varland replaced him, then gave up a three-run home run to Jorge Polanco, breaking the 3-3 tie in what was a Mariners win.

If Yesavage pitches as he did in Game 2 of the American League Divisional Series, he’ll have a lot of leesh, but if he gives up a few runs like he did early in the series, expect the Jays to go to the bullpen early.

On Saturday, Blue Jays manager John Schneider noted that “everyone will be available [out of the bullpen in Game 6] that is physically available.” You’d have to imagine that Kevin Gausman won’t be available, but Max Scherzer seems like a possibility, as does Shane Bieber and Chris Bassitt.