The Toronto Blue Jays are back in the American League Division Series (ALDS) for the first time since 2016, and fans across Canada can catch Games 1 and 2 this weekend.
Toronto will face the New York Yankees, who eliminated the Boston Red Sox in the wild-card round Thursday night after finishing second behind the first-place Blue Jays in the AL East during the regular season. The Jays avoided the wild-card round by finishing both first in the East and with the top record in the American League.
Here’s everything fans need to know about catching the action this weekend, both on screen and around the city.
When and where to watch the games on TV
Both of the ALDS opening games will be afternoon starts at Rogers Centre. Major League Baseball has confirmed that first pitch for Game 1 on Saturday will be at 4:08 p.m., and Game 2 will be played at the same time Sunday.
The best-of-five series will shift to Yankee Stadium for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a potential Game 5 returning to Toronto. Start times for those games have not yet been announced.
Sportsnet will be airing the games with their normal regular season broadcast team of Dan Shulman, Buck Martinez and Hazel Mae returning for the playoffs.
Best spots to watch outside the Rogers Centre
A number of Toronto venues are leaning into playoff energy with big-screen views, themed menus and packed patios:
Sportsnet Grill, located inside the Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel, offers views directly into the Rogers Centre. Reservations for tables overlooking the field include a $50 booking fee.
Amsterdam Brewhouse on the Harbourfront offers lakefront seating and game-day specials for fans looking for a more scenic playoff experience.
Left Field Brewery, with locations in Liberty Village and Leslieville, brings a baseball-themed taproom and a rotating lineup of ballpark-inspired brews.
Dublin Calling, in the heart of the Entertainment District, will show all games on more than 20 TVs and is offering $1 hot dogs with any drink purchase during the playoffs.
Transit changes
With tens of thousands of fans expected downtown for the weekend games, Metrolinx has postponed major track work that was originally scheduled for October 4 and 5 on the Lakeshore West line.
The work would have cancelled train service between Oakville and Union Station, as it did the previous weekend. GO buses would have replaced trains between Oakville and Clarkson stations, and continued express to Union Station.
“Everyone responded quickly and collaboratively to a significant change in plans,” Metrolinx said. “We’re grateful for their flexibility and teamwork in making this possible. We will confirm for riders the schedule of future Lakeshore West track closures in the coming days.”
Construction on the Don Valley Parkway, which was also planned for the weekend, has also been postponed, a city spokesperson told the Star.
Ticket Prices
As of Thursday morning, the get-in price for seats in the 300s is around $230 though some have ballooned into the thousands on ticket resale sites like StubHub.
Seats in the 200s will run you $250 and up while there is nothing under $588 in the lower bowl.
The Yankees have barred Canadians from buying tickets to potential ALDS games in the Bronx.
