NEW YORK — Champagne drenched the carpets of the visitors clubhouse the last time the Toronto Blue Jays were in the Bronx. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. screamed “DAAAAA YANKEES LOSE” on national television, as the Blue Jays danced on the graves of the New York Yankees’ 2025 season.The Yankees haven’t forgotten how last season went against their American League East rival. They finished 6-11 versus Toronto, including the postseason. Their 5-8 record against the Blue Jays in the regular season cost them the tiebreaker to win the division. Finishing with the same 94-68 record as the Blue Jays but starting the postseason in the Wild Card Series instead of a bye into the AL Division Series was the ultimate reminder of how every game matters on the road to 162.“Every game is very important, but there are situations where we should lock in — not that we aren’t locked in, but being aware that there’s maybe a little more to it,” Yankees starter Cam Schlittler said. “I think this is one of those series. The same with Tampa (this weekend) as well. We went to their place and easily could have taken two out of three. We didn’t. So, it’s frustrating. I think we’re in a good position to make a good run here and take these two series as a momentum shift.”The Yankees entered this four-game series against the Blue Jays scuffling. They went 2-7 on their nine-game road trip and ended it with major concerns. One of those is closer David Bednar and the roller coaster he’s been on all season. Monday night was no different.Bednar needed 36 pitches to get three outs in the ninth inning, but he held on for the save in a 7-6 comeback win over the Blue Jays. Groans filled Yankee Stadium after Bednar walked Ernie Clement to lead off the ninth. Jesús Sánchez followed with an RBI double, cutting the Yankees’ lead in half. But after walking Yohendrick Piñango, Bednar buckled down, striking out George Springer and getting Guerrero to ground out to end the game.The Yankees’ closer blew the save Sunday against the New York Mets by allowing a three-run home run to Tyrone Taylor. It was his second blown save of the road trip. After giving up a run Monday, Bednar has allowed at least one run in 11 of 21 games this season, which is tied with St. Louis Cardinals reliever Matt Svanson for the most in MLB.“One of the things we love about him is he’s not flappable,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Bednar. “No matter what’s going on, you trust who he is.”David Bednar and catcher J.C. Escarra celebrate after surviving a nervy ninth inning. (Ishika Samant / Getty Images)Second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. was one of those concerns the Yankees had dealt with for the majority of this season, but he has started to produce at the plate. He came through in the seventh inning Monday, after Cody Bellinger’s two-run blast, by hitting a two-run homer of his own that ricocheted off the left-field foul pole and gave the Yankees a 7-5 lead. Chisholm credits his turnaround at the plate to wearing Giancarlo Stanton’s two-sizes-too-big pants and using José Caballero’s bat.Chisholm spent the offseason thinking about his error in Game 4 of the ALDS against the Blue Jays. The Yankees trailed 2-1 in the seventh inning, but his error cost them two runs. It effectively buried their season. He hopes this year is different when the Yankees face the Blue Jays.“Especially losing to them in the playoffs, we gotta have a different mindset when it comes to them,” Chisholm said. “Every time we see them, we have that feeling. At least I do, for sure. I know a couple of other guys in the clubhouse have that feeling of, like, we owe you something. We’re gonna show you what we’ve got.”This is an important week for the Yankees, who will play seven consecutive games against the Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays, the AL East leader by three games. New York has an opportunity this week to make Toronto’s chances of crawling back into the division race seem daunting. After the Blue Jays’ loss Monday, they’re 10 1/2 games back of the Rays and 7 1/2 games back of the Yankees for second place.Schlittler said he couldn’t wait to pitch Wednesday against the Blue Jays after not being his sharpest against them in the postseason last year. Earlier on Monday, he appeared on a New York Post podcast and said he hoped his teammates had a “fire under everyone’s ass” heading into this series. He can’t speak for everyone, but there’s one fueling him before his start.“It wasn’t (specifically saying) that everyone has a fire under their ass,” Schlittler said. “I was just implying that they should. I think, regardless of the situation of playing them, I think how the road series played out last week, that’s enough for (his teammates) to have an edge. At least, for me, it’s frustrating.“It’s a good motivator to get back home after a pretty long road trip and just lock in with playing a division opponent that ended our season last year. I think it’s a good way to put ourselves in a position to get on a roll and take momentum into the rest of the series and against Tampa as well.”May 19, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms