BRONX, NY — A series with the Blue Jays and Yankees had many circling this matchup on the calendar, can’t blame the anticipation that saw two AL East foes meeting last October in the ALDS with Toronto advancing. Remember the Yankees said they would run it back, 24 of 26 players on the roster are returning ones and also recall that abrupt conclusion in four games.
No different though, these are ball games played within the AL East division. The Yankees had that difficulty handling the Blue Jays last year. They were not the better team and Toronto was as a tie-breaker decided it all. With the result, the division title was lost, and same for home field advantage so they had to settle for the top AL Wild Card spot.
Aaron Judge and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. chatting it up at first base during Tuesday night’s Blue Jays-Yankees matchup in the Bronx – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
But the Yankees, even with a struggling and taxed bullpen this year, also got good news Tuesday evening prior to taking the second of four games in the Bronx, 5-4. Their ace Gerrit Cole, whose recovery from Tommy John surgery is complete, will start Friday night against the division leading Rays.
Sure Cole back on the mound is encouraging for a Yankees starting rotation watching Will Warren give them five innings of three-run ball on six hits and a walk.
The final 12 outs went to the pen, manager Aaron Boone could not go with Fernando Cruz or David Bednar, the latter throwing over 43 pitches in two consecutive games (Monday vs. Toronto and Sunday vs. the Mets).
For an on and off Yankees bullpen to start off this season, Fernando Cruz has stayed consistent with a 2.25 ERA and 28 strikeouts across 20 innings – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Instead, Camilo Doval could not get an easy three outs, allowing one run in the ninth, but still earning his first save of the season. Again, a bullpen that is struggling. Surely the Yankees will get some reinforcements prior to the early August trade deadline, till then Boone will utilize what’s available and bullpen help will not be an easy task for GM Brian Cashman.
Warren said about his teammates in the bullpen “it was nerve-wrecking, but we trust those guys down there” as Tim Hill, and Brent Headrick preceded Doval.
And it was the Yankees again with the home run ball that led a comeback after trailing by three runs. Ryan McMahon with an opposite field three-run homer that tied the score. And Ben Rice with a go-ahead two-run home run in the fifth inning.
Ryan McMahon and Ben Rice each connecting on game-changing swings in Tuesday night’s 5-4 comeback victory against the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
It’s still early, though Memorial Day is approaching and at that point, there is a better indication where this team and the 29 others could be in late September. Though the Yankees are not looking that far. They just want to take it from the Blue Jays. They believe it will be done, a series win on the docket for Wednesday evening.
But at the moment, the major stumbling block could be the bullpen, consistent at times but also nerve-wrecking.
Then again, a good bullpen and closer is hard to find, a Mariano Rivera replica in the Bronx is not around the corner.
With David Bednar combining for 43 pitching on Sunday and Monday, the right-hander was unavailable to go Tuesday vs. Toronto – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Rivera had that cutter to perfection. Bednar, acquired in a trade with Pittsburgh at the trade deadline last year, shows flashes of brilliance with a curveball though the fastball can be erratic. He’s not Rivera, neither is another trade acquisition of Doval from the Giants to the Yankees last summer.
“Coming to the Yankees, I’ve always said that every game feels like a World Series,” said Doval through interpreter Marlon Abreu. “The energy, the adrenaline, you see the guys how much they care”
Boone has trust in Doval, Hill, Cruz, and of course Bednar. Then again, you go with your horses and at some point, the revamp will come if starters can’t go past five innings. That leads to that awful term of a taxed bullpen.
Like many contenders across the game, the Yankees will look to improve on their bullpen ahead of the August trade deadline – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
“Camilo bent, but he didn’t break,” Boone said.
“To go through the heart of the order there to finish it off, I love that poise,” referring to Doval ending the game with a fielder’s choice as the Blue Jays had runners at the corners.
Aaron Boone gave props to Camilo Doval in the postgame for digging down in the ninth and stepping up for his first save of 2026 – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Regardless, it worked this time in a tight game, a division win against a team the Yankees have chronicled as games they must win. As Jazz Chishom Jr. said this week about facing the Blue Jays: “we owe you something.”
And the bullpen at its best can owe them something. It’s a matter of consistency and improvement, then again—we are months away from that important trade deadline and determining where this is going.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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