Yankees set lineup for ALDS Game 1 showdown with Blue Jays

Yankees set lineup for ALDS Game 1 showdown with Blue Jays originally appeared on The Sporting News

After a dramatic wild-card victory over the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees are turning their focus to the American League Division Series, where they will face another familiar foe — the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Yankees and Blue Jays were neck and neck throughout the regular season, both finishing with identical records. Toronto earned the first-round bye thanks to a better head-to-head record, taking eight of 13 games from New York. That placed the Yankees in the first wild-card spot, where they outlasted Boston in a thrilling three-game series that ended Thursday.

Game 1 of the ALDS begins this afternoon at Rogers Centre, where right-hander Luis Gil will make his first postseason start of the year for the Yankees. Gil returned from an injury-shortened 2025 campaign to post a 4-1 record with a 3.32 ERA. He will oppose Toronto ace Kevin Gausman, who went 10-11 with a 3.59 ERA and 189 strikeouts during the regular season.

Against the right-handed Gausman, Yankees manager Aaron Boone will again start Ben Rice at first base, with veteran Paul Goldschmidt remaining on the bench. Ryan McMahon, whose strong defensive play helped seal Thursday’s win, will start at third base, replacing Amed Rosario. The rest of the lineup remains largely unchanged, though Boone has shuffled the batting order slightly.

Off the bench, Boone will have Goldschmidt, Rosario, outfielder Jasson Domínguez and utility player José Caballero available. Backup catcher J.C. Escarra is also active but expected to play only in an emergency.

As the Yankees look to carry their postseason momentum into Toronto, all eyes will be on Gil and the bullpen to set the tone in the opening game of the series.