OverDrive - Matheson on the Blue Jays and Yankees' battle, Springer's impressive run and Yesavage's possible jump

Episode Date: September 5, 2025

MLB.com Blue Jays Reporter Keegan Matheson joined OverDrive to discuss the Blue Jays' showdown against the Yankees, the stature of the series, New York's powerful bats, Max Scherzer's start being pushed back, Trey Yesavage set to make a jump, George Springer's impressive stretch and more.

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Kegan Matheson, MLB.com. Jay's reporter, join us on the Maple Toyota hotline. What's going on, Keeks? I'm in New York, but I'm thinking about Boston pizza now, fellas. Sounds good. Sounds good. Yeah, yeah. I'm just thinking about this series tonight,

because, I mean, you got the Jays, the Yankees. There's three games separates these two in the standings. When it comes to that ALE's crown, and how big of a series is this? Biggest of the year, guys. I know we've said that a lot of times already this season. It's hard to get away from that, but this one, it's the only way to look at it.

You look at the ALEs, you look at the stakes, you look at how long it's left. I asked John Schneider this before the game, and he said that even he and the players at this point, you have to look at it a bit differently. This is not a series in May. You cannot just say it's another few games. You try to win everything.

None of that matters anymore. None of that sticks for me. You have to approach it differently. you have to think of it differently, and you have to play it differently. You have to play these like they are postseason games. I think you'll see a bit of that. You'll see them being more aggressive, a little more picky with who they're using. But this is big time.

Man, I remember back in, was it June guys, when the Yankees came to Toronto, and that was the biggest series of the season back then. But at that point, the Yankees were probably saying, come on, grow up. You know, the Yankees have had a lot of those. At this point, it's big for both of them. Everybody involved really give the damn about what we're, about to see these next few days. Any concern about the swapping out of Bassett and Scherzer as the rotation?

A little bit, because ideally this is just precautionary and everybody's happy and healthy, but is it a back issue that just needs exactly 24 more hours, or is he still dealing with something? We'll see. We're going to have to keep an eye on this through the game, guys, because last time out, you could tell something wasn't quite right, didn't have his best stuff, was not as good as we've seen him. We're going to have to keep an eye on this second inning, third inning, see how he looks.

But if it's just a matter of 24 more hours and it's perfect, great. Everybody's happy. But anybody who's had a cranky back, a bad neck, anything like that, you know that it drags on. And ideally one day is enough, guys, but we'll see. That's something where you're really going to have to keep an eye on the velocity and everything else tomorrow. That whole pitching stuff, like bullpen starting rotation, like that's got to be a concern

for Schneider as a whole, Kigs. like the offense was great in CINCY, but if they want to roll in there and have those guys go on the mound and do that stuff that they were pulling in CINCY that's going to be big-time problems. Yeah, you're going to get rocked if you do that against the real team. You're going to get absolutely rocked. They're against the Yankees, too.

If you make a few mistakes against the Yankees, suddenly eight runs, turns into 12, 14 runs. They are going to blast off against this team. The Blue Jays pitchers need to be better. Home runs have been a problem for their starters, all season long and they have ranked among the worst in baseball they've been up there with the a's which is not the type of company you want to keep in any regard really the Yankees hit a ton of home runs man and that's why this team guys I think it's I don't think they're a powerhouse

but I think they're a team you hate to face in October because they can get hot for two days hit a ton of home runs and wreck your whole season wreck your whole year instantly and the way that this bullpen and rotation, like you say, oh, dog, and pitching, it's not good enough right now. All year it's been a luxury for John Schneider. You show up, press whatever button, you look good, you win, everybody's happy. That's not happening right now. They look average right now. Not terrible, but it's coming back around, but average is not good enough. I mean, my God, not at this point of the season, not a Yankee Stadium, not when you're trying to win the division. This is not about sneaking into the party with a wild card, which is like being the guy

at the party, no one really invited. You're trying to win the east. This is different. Well, it's interesting because, like, the bullpen has been a bit of a mess recently, obviously, and Trey Savage, who was more of a conversation a few weeks ago, his last three starts in AAA has gone, 12 and a third innings, 19 strikeouts. He's given up just four runs at that level. Obviously, big difference between AAA and the big leagues, but if they continue to sputter out of the bullpen, like, is that a guy that the Jays could look at potentially adding

and taking a look at them down the stretch here? Still very possible, guys. And even if you're at it in September, you can still be eligible for the playoffs. It's a boring explanation that involves a commissioner's okay. It works. It usually happens. It can happen. And with you, Savage, I understand not wanting to make him the savior,

not wanting to put pressure on him. I also believe that he is a fully functioning adult, and at some point you've got to handle the pressure. And I think he can. It's a really simple conversation. for me, guys. I think we've talked before about the best 13 or 14 pitchers on a team. And the simplest way to look at that is to pick who's number 13 or 14 right now. You're comparing Trey Yassavage to Ryan Baraki. It would have been Dylan Tate before he was optioned today.

Tommy Nance has been good lately, but those lower end arms in the bullpen, would you rather them or would you rather Trey Yassavage? I know that development needs to be considered a little bit, but we've spent a lot of time in this city over the past seven, eight years talking about Nate Pearson, about Ricky Teeteman. Pearson's bouncing around as a fringe reliever. Ricky Teeteman's got surgery now. These guys don't last forever. When you've got a chance, you need to ride it while it's hot. And Trey Savage looked really good in his last relief out in three innings. If he has another good one, I think that really picks up. That's still an option for me, guys, and it's still tempting as hell because he's really good. And if you're

comparing him to your number 13 or 14 pitcher, I know which one I'm looking at. Kagan, we talked about the importance of pitching and how it has to straighten itself out. But as far as offensively, on the broadcast, they talk about guys picking each other up and different guys stepping up. There's been Varshow, there's been Springer and Bichette. They've been so good. Like, would this not be a series where you'd look at a guy like Vladdy to say, this could be a great time? Like, he's been what he is since the injury coming back from it. But, man, what a time for him to, like, come alive and take control of this series in the Bronx.

I think it would be massive for him and the team. You're dead right. Exactly. Perfect time. It's nice to see a roster that works together. It's good to see players pick everyone up. Everyone's cheery. At a certain point, Vladdy needs to light the Yankees up.

He's done that a lot of times in his career. He loves playing baseball here. I think there's a little bit of an edge that comes out in Vladdy when he's here, like a real edge. that we don't see a lot of other times he's been good we've talked about it all year he's been good almost great almost who he can be but not quite all the way there no better time than right now hit a couple of home runs shush the crowd where you're running around the bases upset some people while you're doing that why not you know this team hasn't found itself in many of those abrasive situations i guess i'll call them this year now's the time for it man add some spice

to this. Vladdy has owned this place a few different times in his career, and a performance like that, man, puts the Blue Jays right to where they were a month ago, which is the rest of baseball talking about them. The rest of baseball is not talking about the Blue Jays right now. They're kind of losing steam.

Vladdy's that one guy. If he lights up this series, he's the one guy. He changes it all. Should Springer get some MVP votes? Man, I can't believe that's a real question that, like, I have to consider. this year. It's amazing, right?

Like we were talking about him in spring training, guys. I didn't see any of this coming. Won't pretend to be smart. That would be a complete lie. I saw none of this coming. And noodles, I thought the conversation we'd be having it this time this year in spring training was, like, does he have a place on the roster? Like, can the Blue Jays keep parrying this guy in his contract? It's been one of the most impressive seasons I've ever seen, honestly, given where he came

from and what he's meant to this team. And I'm a big believer, guys, and really getting down to the definition of valuable okay it's not the most home runs it's not valuable to a team who was the most valuable to their team george springer's got a lot of arguments over top of the big names now it's not going to beat out a judge or raleigh those types of guys that's crazy but on the back of a ballot i've got all the time in the world for that and it's something that voters myself included will have to really consider and i'm a big believer in really getting into the definition of that word again valuable who mattered the most to their team it's hard to make an argument

for many guys over George Springer this year, because if you make George Springer who he was last year on the 2025 roster, it seems toast. You're probably fighting for a third wild card, same old story. So what is it Keegan that's allowed him to have this renaissance season? Like, what's been so different with him? Last year, he was playing defense, I think, as a hitter.

He was trying to react. He was on his heels. It was very hesitant and tentative. And that is never going to work. George Springer is underratedly one of the best athletes I've ever been around, guys. Like, outside linebacker, NFL star, incredible athletes. And I think he's gotten back into that finally. He got away from it.

He was playing defensive baseball and trying to hit singles. That's not going to be George Springer's game, guys. He is big and strong and quick and powerful enough to be launching 30 home runs, which he's about to do. And I think that's a huge credit to the hitting staff. but a huge pet of Springer as well for looking in the mirror and saying, you know what, that sucks. Like, 2024 was not it. And if you do that again, we're probably having a way worse conversation right now.

He reflected on that and was realistic with himself that it wasn't good. And he's bounced back from that. And you see someone using their athleticism. I don't care that he's 35. I know that's old in baseball. But he is an incredible athlete. That's why he was so good, so young, top prospect and everything with the Astros. he's back into it man it looks amazing

well we're excited it's going to be a big series down in in New York you're down taking in all the action we get let you get back to work first pitch coming up in about an hour and 25 minutes or so hour and a half almost appreciate taking time to join us as always Keegan we'll do it again soon

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