For the New York Yankees , there’s no easing into October baseball. Just a day after outlasting the Boston Red Sox in a tense Wild Card matchup, the Yankees now head north of the border to face the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Division Series. Game 1 at Rogers Centre on Saturday brings a classic playoff dilemma: the Jays know exactly who’s taking the ball, while the Yankees are still wrestling with uncertainty.

Blue Jays hand the ball to their ace

Toronto manager John Schneider didn’t have to think twice. He tabbed Kevin Gausman, the club’s veteran right-hander, to start Game 1.

“I’m ready to go. I’m fired up,” Gausman said Friday , his words as steady as his splitter.

The numbers tell the story of a season that might look uneven at first glance but proves his value on clos

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