3 things to know about Blue Jays as Yankees prepare for ALDS showdown

NEW YORK – Oh, Canada!

Beginning Saturday at Rogers Centre, the Yankees will face the well-rested Toronto Blue Jays in a best-of-five Division Series, with the winner advancing to the AL Championship Series.

Of course, the Jays and Yanks finished tied for the AL’s best record at 94-68, but Toronto captured the AL East crown due to their superior 8-5 head-to-head season series mark.

You can trace the Yankees’ slide from division leaders to their two July trips to Canada, dropping a four-game set and losing two out of three, before giving Toronto a late-season scare.

Here are three things to know about the Blue Jays entering the ALDS:

Blue Jays’ rested pitching staff

While the Yankees and Red Sox played a best-of-three Wild Card Series to its max, the Blue Jays have rested and worked out at home since Monday.

That five-day layoff has allowed Toronto to set its rotation with Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber potentially going in Games 1 and 2.

Dealing with a back issue, veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt could be available as a starter as early as Game 3, at Yankee Stadium.

Exactly where does Hall-of-Fame bound righty Max Scherzer fit in?

Scherzer has posted a 9.00 ERA, yielding eight homers over his last six starts – including one at Yankee Stadium.

Will Blue Jays’ Bo Bichette play in ALDS?

Injured in a play at the plate at Yankee Stadium in early September, the All-Star shortstop’s status is still uncertain for the ALDS.

Per MLB.com, Blue Jays manager John Schneider left the door ajar for Bichette to be an available player at some point in this series.

“This is a big couple of days for him,’’ Schneider said leading up to Saturday. “If he’s ready, we’ll obviously welcome him back with open arms. If he’s not,’’ the hope is to “get him back in the next round.’’

Filling in at shortstop is Andres Gimenez, with a .598 OPS in 101 games this season.

Blue Jays’ George Springer finds Fountain of Youth

At age 36, George Springer had a tremendous bounce back season.

In 140 games, the right-handed hitter out of UConn batted .309 with a .959 OPS and 32 homer, and he tormented the Yankees this year – especially at Rogers Centre.

Springer played in all 13 games against the Yankees this year, batting .348 with a 1.116 OPS and four home runs.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees vs Blue Jays playoff preview, what to know about ALDS

3 things to know about Blue Jays as Yankees prepare for ALDS showdown

Tags: