By Harshit | October 9, 2025 | New York | 2:15 AM EDT
NEW YORK – What began in historic fashion for the New York Yankees ended with yet another October heartbreak.
Back in late March, the Bronx Bombers launched their 2025 campaign by demolishing the Milwaukee Brewers, who would go on to finish with baseball’s best regular-season record. In that opening three-game series, the Yankees blasted 15 home runs — tying a major league record for the most in the first three games of a season — while scoring 36 runs. The outburst had fans and pundits questioning if New York was wielding corked bats. The league dismissed the noise, and the Yankees carried on chasing their elusive 28th World Series title.
That quest came to an abrupt and bitter end on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays hammered New York pitching yet again, sealing a 5-2 win in Game 4 of the American League Division Series. The Blue Jays’ 3-1 series victory marked another October exit for a Yankees team with championship aspirations, raising the same familiar questions about why the sport’s most iconic franchise hasn’t hoisted the trophy since 2009.
Rotation Breakdown in October
The biggest culprit was New York’s starting rotation.
Game 1: Luis Gil lasted just 2⅔ innings, surrendering two runs as the Yankees were routed 10-1.
Game 2: Max Fried, the $218 million ace imported from Atlanta, was shelled for seven runs in only three innings.
Game 3: Carlos Rodón was no better, giving up six earned runs across 2⅓ innings in a 9-6 defeat.
Across the first three games, the trio combined for a staggering 16.88 ERA over eight innings pitched. By the time rookie Cam Schlittler took the mound in Game 4, the Yankees were already staring at elimination. Schlittler gave them 6⅓ solid innings but was tagged with the loss as Guerrero Jr.’s bat delivered the fatal blows.
Boone Faces Familiar Questions
For manager Aaron Boone, who has now won 90 or more games in six of his eight seasons, the narrative remains the same: regular-season consistency but no championship payoff. Despite a payroll of nearly $285 million — third only to the Mets and Dodgers — New York has just one AL pennant under his watch.
“The awful part of this is the journey you go on,” Boone said after the loss. “This has been a tough year for me personally, but you fight to become a team capable of something special. For it to end so suddenly is always painful.”
He added that the disappointment also fuels the team’s motivation: “It hurts. But for me, and for a lot of these guys, it ignites the fire to come back and play in these meaningful games again. The chance at glory is what keeps you going.”
Looking Toward 2026
There is some hope for the Yankees moving forward. Gerrit Cole is expected to return healthy following Tommy John surgery, slotting back into a rotation that should also include Fried, Rodón, and the emerging Schlittler. Boone singled out the 24-year-old as a future cornerstone despite his Game 4 loss.
“Cam’s going to be a stalwart in our rotation,” Boone said. “He showed us in the Wild Card against Boston that he has the stuff and the poise. We trust him.”
Fried, despite his postseason struggles, still delivered 19 wins in his debut season in pinstripes. Rodón notched 18 victories. Add a healthy Cole to the mix, and the Yankees could feature one of the most formidable staffs in the American League.
Still, the disappointment of another ALDS exit lingers. For all the home runs, star power, and payroll muscle, New York once again finds itself watching October glory from the sidelines.
As Guerrero Jr. and Toronto celebrated on Yankee Stadium’s infield, the Bronx faithful were left to ponder a familiar, painful question: When will the Yankees’ long championship drought finally end?
