SportsCage MLB analyst Arash Madani detailed the atmosphere in Toronto after the Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees 5-2 in Game 4 to win the American League Division Series three games to one and advance to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2016.
"It's rocking. There's real Blue Jays fever, there's real Blue Jays mania. They got to the postseason in 2022 and they got to the postseason in 2023. This is the closest it's felt to what the Raptors run was like in 2019 -- that came out of nowhere," Madani said on the SportsCage. "It's crazy how it all works out. Two weeks ago, the Jays felt like they were doomed, they were finished. Now, all of a sudden you blink and they can do no wrong."
Through September 17 to 20, the Jays lost four straight regular season games, two to the Tampa Bay Rays and two to the Kansas City Royals. However, the team rebounded to earn first place in the American League East Division and earn the No. 1 seed in the American League playoffs with a 94-68 win-loss record. The Blue Jays will play whoever wins Game 5 in the other ALDS series between the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners in the ALCS.
"The Mariners have a much better starting pitching staff, their rotation is very strong. They got some pop in their lineup, Cal Raleigh casually hit 60 home runs, Josh Naylor, who's actually from Mississauga, he's got a pop in his bat, but it's more that Seattle's pitching is much better," Madani said. "The Tigers and the Jays have never played against one another in the playoffs, ever. There would be a mass exodus out of this town on the way down the 401 towards Detroit if that's going to be the series. I think if you're the Jays, you would much rather face the Tigers than you would the Mariners."
The Jays lost one game in the ALDS series against the Yankees, which was Game 3 on Tuesday, by a 9-6 score.
"Honestly, if they hadn't kicked the ball around in Game 3 with ridiculous errors, they smashed the Yankees -- this series wasn't close. Addison Barger apparently forgot to catch, Isiah Kiner-Falefa couldn't handle a routine ground ball, Anthony Santander took a ridiculous angle. If not for that, they smashed the Yankees pitching," Madani said. "They absolutely destroyed them at every turn, I thought that was a masterclass for a bullpen game. The way they managed the relievers, eight different guys getting the call and doing it -- pretty wild."
The Blue Jays host Game 1 in the ALCS on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto. The Jays are aiming to win the ALCS for the first time since winning back-to-back World Series in 1992 and 1993.
