The Yankees came to Toronto riding high on their comeback series win against the Red Sox. But after losing Game 1 by a score of 10-1, all that hype has melted away faster than an ice cream kept in an oven.  The Bronx Bombers are down 1-0 in the ALDS, their bullpen construction clearly showing signs of weakness. The Blue Jays hit 14 times, thanks in part to Alejandro Kirk’s two home runs. The Yankees’ struggle is perfectly exemplified by the performance of their pitcher: Luke Weaver.

The Yankees’ biggest problem right now is Luke Weaver’s change from being a hero in October last year to being a liability this year. Last year, he had a 1.76 ERA in 12 playoff games, struck out 16 batters, and got four saves during the World Series run. His regular season in 2025 was just as reliable, with a 3.62 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 72 strikeouts in 64 games. But those numbers hid a worrying trend. Weaver gave up runs in five of his last eight games, going back to September. His Statcast profile showed that he was very vulnerable, with an average exit velocity of 89.2 mph.

His fall in October was the biggest in history. Weaver became only the second pitcher in postseason history, after Rick Honeycutt in the 1989 ALCS, to face at least three batters in two straight games without getting an out. In the Wild Card opener against Boston, he faced three batters: a walk, a double, and a two-run single. The same thing happened on Saturday: a walk, a single, an RBI single, and then Boone finally pulled him. “Baseball seems to be overwhelming a bit at the moment when the results aren’t on your side,” Weaver admitted in making mechanical changes to avoid tipping pitches.

Boone maintained his support despite the carnage. “It can click like that because the stuff is there,” he told reporters. “We’ve just got to get him locked in with his delivery.” That faith seems to be misplaced. With Game 2 coming up and Toronto’s offense going 11-3 at home since August 31, the Yankees need answers, not hope. Weaver’s margin for error disappeared two performances ago.

The Yankees’ next steps are now the main topic of conversation. Boone needs to find answers that don’t just rely on faith, and the pitching matchup for Game 2 gives him a little hope in an otherwise darkening situation.

Yankees Face Must-Win Test Against Blue Jays on Sunday

The New York Yankees can’t afford another bullpen meltdown when they play at Rogers Centre on Sunday afternoon. This is a very important game in this best-of-five series. Game 3 will be played at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night. If they lose again, the season is over.

Toronto is sending rookie Trey Yesavage to the mound to face Yankees ace Max Fried. Yesavage’s rise has been amazing; he has moved up four levels in the minor leagues this year before making it to the majors. He had a 3.21 ERA in three starts in September, showing poise beyond his years. He is now in the spotlight of playoff baseball.

Fried has a lot of pressure on him because he has a lot of experience. The three-time All-Star had a great regular season, going 19-5 with a 2.86 ERA. In the Wild Card opener, he shut down Boston for more than six innings. His performance gives the Yankees their best chance to get back on track after Saturday’s collapse.

The challenge is still very hard. Toronto beat New York seven times out of eight at Rogers Centre this season. That edge helped the Blue Jays win 54 games at home, the best record in the league. The Yankees, who were in the World Series last season before the Dodgers ended their run for the title, need to get back to the form that let them beat Boston 4-0 on Thursday. Sunday calls for strength.