The Toronto Blue Jays are laying it all on the line for a crucial ALDS showdown.
Breakout rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage is available out of the bullpen for Game 4 of the series against the New York Yankees, manager John Schneider told reporters hours before first pitch.
The move to make Yesavage available comes only three days after the 22-year-old pitched 5.1 scoreless innings in Game 2 and confounded Yankees bats in the process, striking out a franchise-record 11.
First pitch of Game 4 is set for 7:08 p.m. ET / 4:08 p.m. PT, with live coverage available on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
Before making his post-season debut on Sunday, Yesavage had made three regular-season starts for the Blue Jays following a meteoric rise through levels of the minor leagues.
In those three starts, he pitched to a 3.21 ERA with 16 strikeout in 14 innings.
Louis Varland is set to make the start on Wednesday for the Blue Jays in a bullpen day for Toronto.
However, Schneider made it clear after Tuesday’s 9-6 loss that “everyone’s available” for Wednesday’s showdown, as Toronto, up 2-1 in the series, is hoping to clinch without needing a Game 5.
Varland tossed 20 pitches over one inning of work in Game 3, but allowed Aaron Judge’s game-tying three-run homer.
The 27-year-old started for the Blue Jays on Sept. 25 against the Boston Red Sox, working 2.0 perfect innings before handing the game over to Eric Lauer in what ended as a 6-1 Toronto win.
Over 23.2 regular-season innings with the Blue Jays, Varland posted a 4.94 ERA and 28 strikeouts. He was acquired from Minnesota at the trade deadline after carrying a 2.02 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 49 innings with the Twins.
Schneider also mentioned that while unlikely, ace Kevin Gausman is available to make an appearance on Wednesday after starting Saturday’s Game 1.
