Toronto Blue Jays speak ahead of ALDS Game 1. Here’s what they said.

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider walks in the dugout before the start of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Toronto Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins, Manager John Schneider, and catcher Alejandro Kirk spoke to reporters on Wednesday ahead of the American League Division Series (ALDS).

Toronto is set to play the winner of the Wild Card series, either the New York Yankees or the Boston Red Sox, in Game 1 on Saturday. Boston leads the series 1-0, with Game 2 set for tonight.

The MLB announced today that if the Yankees advance to the ALDS, the first pitch in Game 1 will be thrown at 4:08 p.m. If the Red Sox win, the first pitch will be thrown at 1:08 p.m.

Here’s what Atkins, Schneider, and Kirk said on Wednesday:

12:53 p.m. - ‘These guys really root for one another’: Schneider

“I’ve used the word selfless a lot, and these guys really root for one another. They don’t care who gets the job done. They don’t care if they don’t start. They know they have a chance to impact the game in some way. They don’t care if I pinch hit for them. They don’t care if I take them out for defence. They don’t care...So that’s the biggest thing, is how it’s not one guy, it’s not one pitcher, and some guys that helped us get to this point, you know, aren’t going to be on our playoff roster. You know, they’re finishing the year in Triple A, so it’s a collective,” Manager John Schneider said.

12:52 p.m. - Jays vets teaching younger players

“The veteran guys have done, and are continuing to do, a really good job of talking to the younger guys. And whether that’s George (Springer) or Max (Scherzer), whoever, you know, I think that they can probably sit and think about scenarios that these guys have been in that these guys haven’t thought of yet. And how watching the games that are going on right now, how you never really know what’s going to happen,” Schneider said.

12:49 p.m. - Schneider on playing as AL East champs versus as Wild Card winners

“It’s a little bit different, right? Because you’ve earned this time off and earned a certain seed compared to a lower one. But different for sure...Anything can happen, any given play, any given pitch, so it’s still, I think we’re approaching it like, you know, playoff baseball, not that we’re just waiting to go out here and win by any means. You know what I mean? So I love the fact that we get to play here for Game 1, I think that’s really important for us. But I think the guys will handle it like they would any other post-season game, really,” Schneider said.

12:47 p.m. - On Jays playing intrasquad games before ALDS Game 1

“We’re doing it with crowds, with anthems, with music, with in-between inning breaks. You get a little bit of baseball withdrawal, you know, myself included, to where you can get a little stale. So hopefully we can replicate a little bit of energy. You know, work is the main thing. But we’re going to try to make everything as game-like as possible,” Schneider said.

12:46 p.m. - Bichette doing more ‘every day’

“He’s doing more every day, hitting more. He’ll be on the field playing some catch, not running yet, hopefully starting that soon, but doing everything he can to get back as soon as he can,” Schneider said.

12:34 p.m. - ‘I feel the love’: Kirk

“The main reason I believe I signed here...I feel the love from the people of Toronto, from the entire country, everywhere I go, I feel that love. And that’s that’s why I’m here. That’s why I decided it was a big deal on me signing here,” catcher Alejandro Kirk said, through a translator.

12:32 p.m. - ‘We have a goal’: Kirk

“We all needed (this break). It was a long season, but at the same time, we have a goal. We got to stay focused. We got to keep going through our routines every day, work hard and be ready for Saturday,” Kirk said.

12:26 p.m. - On his faith in the roster the Jays’ front office has constructed

“This group has won together a lot, but not enough to reach our goals. It’s hard to win more than you lose in the AL East, and they have done it more than most teams, I think, over the last five years,” General Manager Ross Atkins said.

12:20 p.m. - Reflections on John Schneider’s season

“His baseball acumen and his intellect, I think, is exceptional... I actually think the strengths that allow that (Jays) foundation to excel are his positivity as a human being, similar to Alejandro Kirk, and just how consistent he is. I’ve never been around someone as consistently positive as John Schneider is. It’s not an act. It is authentic, and he treats people indicative of that positivity, and I think that allows for our environment to thrive.”

12:19 p.m. - Kirk is ‘exceptional’: Atkins

“I mean ‘Kirky,’ obviously he’s gotten a lot of attention over the last week and really this year. You know the All-Star performances as well. But he’s such an exceptional Major League Baseball player in the way that he is so consistent, there’s never any surprises with him.”

12:15 p.m. - Atkins on Jays’ 94-68 record

Atkins was asked if he views the Jays’ 94-68 record as a success, or if he’s reserving judgement until October is over.

“You know, it’s such an interesting question. I mean, obviously no executive or player or manager is ever happy going home without the title. But what this team has accomplished this year, we feel is powerful and indicative of the work that they’ve put in, the preparation that they’ve put in, and we’re very proud.”

12:09 p.m. - Berrios still not throwing, Bassitt progressing well

“Jose (Berrios) still is not throwing so it would be hard for him to be a factor in this part of the this portion of the playoffs. And Chris (Bassitt) is progressing very well,” Atkins said.

“Berrios is a factor, potentially for later in the playoffs. We’ll see.”

12:07 p.m. - If Bichette is out, Guerrero will shine: Atkins

“(He’ll do) exceptionally well, (if Bichette doesn’t play in the ALDS). But I also think he has some pretty strong support around him. But he embraces it, he loves it, and I’m excited for him and our team.”

12:05 p.m. - ALDS lineups

“Kirk will be catching, Vladdy will be playing first (base). And we are near finalizing a couple of our rotation decisions, but haven’t finalized them yet.”

12:02 p.m. - On optimizing rest

“We’ve tried to be creative, by bringing some fans in. We’re going to play a couple of (intrasquad) games, and brought in additional talent into the building so that we can break up some of the monotony of that, and then I think it’s leaning into any opportunity we have to prepare in a better way and optimize some of the rest for sure, and guys that are nicked up and certain individuals that have had exceptional workloads,” Atkins said.

12:00 p.m. - Bo Bichette is ‘day-to-day’

“Every day has gotten better for him. I think he said it best, he’s doing everything possible to be ready as soon as possible. We don’t have a date. It’s day-to-day, and our staff is aligned with that,” Atkins said.