The Yankees saw how tough the Blue Jays were after battling to split this week’s four-game set in the Bronx, and given Toronto’s success against the Yanks in the recent past, it will only be tougher when the matchup shifts to the Rogers Centre.
According to Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Bombers’ road to wins north of the border will be even tougher due to two starters who remain unvaccinated against COVID-19.
Per Canada’s policy for eligibility to enter the country, visitors must be fully vaccinated, and Sherman and Heyman report that the Yankees still had “two starting players” who were considered unvaccinated, after others received their shots in “recent months.” This was a factor for the A’s this weekend, as they had to place three players on the restricted list before heading to Toronto, because of their vaccination status.
Aaron Judge has long been rumored to be unvaccinated, though he has consistently declined to speak on that, including when unvaccinated players’ status for home games was up in the air before New York City mayor Eric Adams adjusted the private sector mandate.
The Yankees begin their first road series against the Blue Jays on May 2, which means if those unvaccinated starters want to change their status in time to be eligible for that series, they would have to get those shots almost immediately, as Canada law requires individuals to have received their vaccine at least two weeks before arrival.
Given how competitive the AL East figures to be this season, thanks in part to Toronto’s powerful lineup backed by new pitching additions like Kevin Gausman, every game matters. The Yankees could be shorthanded nine times against the Blue Jays this year, as the team plays that many games in Toronto.
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
Follow WFAN on Social Media
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch