Blue Jays fans were in line early Saturday to get a prime spot to see Toronto take the field against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre.
The two teams met for the first-time ever in Game 1 of the American League Division Series, with the roof open for only the second time in franchise history.
Jays fan Liz McGuire, who became an internet celebrity after getting hit in the face by a scorching foul ball off the bat of Bo Bichette last year, was thrilled to see the sun would be shining down onto the field.
“The Dome is open and the stadium’s rocking. The whole place is going to be crazy. I’m pumped,” the Ottawa native told Postmedia prior to first pitch.
“It’s muggy when it’s closed and I’ve heard that the ball doesn’t carry as well, which can go both ways. But when the Dome open and you can see the CN Tower and the place is rocking. It’s the most magical experience.”
McGuire, who attended 45 games this season, said she was happy Toronto is facing New York in the ALDS. “We won the American League, so I’m excited we’re facing the Yankees.”
McGuire was at Game 1 of the 2015 ALDS when the Jays broke a playoff drought that extended back to 1993, when Toronto was last in the MLB postseason and won the World Series.
“I was at the first playoff game in 2015 — the first one since 1993. It was the most boring game in the history of time. Nothing happened and the Dome was closed,” she said.
The 2022 Wild Card matchup against the Seattle Mariners was also a disappointment.
Arturo Pascua, another longtime fan who was in line at 8 a.m., said he started cheering for the Jays when he moved to Toronto from Honduras in 2013.
“We were baseball players in Honduras and we played for a team that was called the Blue Jays in Spanish and I’ve been a fan ever since,” Pascua said outside the stadium.
He too was at the 2022 Wild Card games and said watching the Mariners erase a 7-run deficit to sweep the Blue Jays with a 10-9 win was a “haunting experience.”
“It scarred me for life,” Pascua said.
George Springer of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on ahead of Game 1 of the Division Series against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre on Oct. 4, 2025.
But Dave Draper, a lifelong fan from Newmarket, said this year’s team is different from past editions.
“I’ve never seen a team come together the way this version has. I feel like the guys in 2015 were all slapped together. But this team last year finished in last place in 2024 and they improved by 20 wins to win the division this year. They just seem like a tight-knit unit and they seem like they’re there for each and I love that,” he said.
“When this team plays well … the whole city and probably the whole country gets behind them,” he continued. “It’s so exciting and so invigorating. They’re must-watch TV. There’s a buzz and everyone’s talking about them. I love when they’re in contention and people care. It brings people together. It’s awesome to see how everyone’s getting behind them.”
The Jays were under .500 and trailing the Yankees by eight games in May and Draper pointed to a six-game road trip against the Tampa Bay Rays and the Texas Rangers as the point where the ballclub turned their season around.
“It was an awful road trip. They got destroyed by Tampa … but then Bo Bichette hit a game-winning home run against Texas,” Draper recalled. “Right after that the offence seemed to come alive. They took off after that.”
Boos rained down on the Yankees as the visitors took to the field shortly before 4 p.m. on Saturday, and continued when New York outfielder Aaron Judge took to the batter’s box in the first inning.
Draper said as well as the Jays have played against the Yankees this season — Toronto won eight of the 13 meetings — Game 1 is a “brand-new game.”
“Everything is starting from scratch,” he said. “I don’t think it’s going to be easy. But I think we have the edge, I really do. I’ve never seen such timely hitting and such great starting pitching since they last won the division in 2015. Based on our offence this year and wins (94-68), I just feel like we might have the edge.”
Draper said he’s expecting starting pitcher Kevin Gausman to remain cool under pressure. “He’s been our horse this year and I think it’s well deserved. He was this smart, obvious choice,” he said.
Kevin Gausman pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning of Game 1 of the Division Series.
As for who might be a difference-maker for Toronto, he predicted third baseman Ernie Clement will surprise fans.
“Not a lot of people are going to say this, but I feel like Ernie Clement is going to have a really clutch moment,” he said. “I don’t know if it’ll be clutch moments, plural. But I think he’s going to come through, whether it’s a hit with the bases loaded or a great at-bat that sets up another great at-bat or a great defensive play in the field. I think Ernie Clement has taken such a huge step forward this year that he’s just going to continue that momentum in the ALDS.”
Game 2 gets underway just after 4 p.m. ET on Sunday.