TORONTO — Trey Yesavage has had a lot of firsts in his rookie season with the Toronto Blue Jays. You can add "decoy" to the list.
Yesavage and Blue Jays manager John Schneider admitted that the freshman pitcher was used as a distraction in the decisive Game 4 of the American League Division Series when Toronto eliminated the New York Yankees from the playoffs with a 5-2 victory.
Yesavage and fellow starting pitcher Kevin Gausman walked to the visitors' bullpen midgame, implying they could come in as relievers to shut down any comeback New York might mount.
"When I was walking down there, I was trying not to smile. I was trying to act locked in," said Yesavage on Sunday ahead of Game 1 of the AL Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners.
"I was told that you guys (reporters) were