TORONTO -- The Blue Jays and Yankees have met 738 times. Combined, the two teams have made 41 postseason appearances and won nine World Series championships since Toronto’s inaugural season in 1977. The clubs have battled it out in the vaunted, heated American League East for decades.

However, the Blue Jays and Yankees have never met in the playoffs -- until Saturday, when the division rivals open an AL Division Series matchup at Rogers Centre.

Does the familiarity among the foes add a bit of spice to the energy and excitement that already accompanies October baseball?

“Yeah -- they want to get after us, we want to get after them,” Toronto closer Jeff Hoffman said. “There’s probably a little bit of added something. I don’t know if it’s visible to the naked eye. But in our own heads, ‘Ye

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