Kevin Gausman tabbed to start Game 1 of AL Division Series for Blue Jays

By Canadian Press on October 3, 2025.

TORONTO — Kevin Gausman will start for the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Saturday afternoon against the New York Yankees.

Manager John Schneider confirmed the decision Friday at a media availability ahead of team workouts at Rogers Centre. The Yankees, who will hold batting practice in the evening, have yet to name their starter.

Gausman was 10-11 this past season with a 3.59 earned-run average and 189 strikeouts over 32 starts.

Toronto shortstop Bo Bichette remained out on a day-to-day basis, Schneider said. Bichette missed the last three weeks of the season with a left knee sprain.

The teams were expected to release their 26-man series rosters on Saturday morning.

Toronto and New York were 94-68 in the regular season but the Blue Jays took the top seed with a better head-to-head record.

The Yankees secured a berth in the ALDS on Thursday night with a 4-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox in the decider of the three-game wild-card series.

New York won the AL pennant last year before falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.

The Blue Jays are looking for their first post-season victory since 2016. Toronto was swept in three wild-card series appearances between 2020 and ’23.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 3, 2025.

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press