Yankees-Blue Jays rivalry just took another heated step

In the seemingly ever-growing rivalry between the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto pitcher Alek Manoah just threw some more gasoline on the fire.

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah makes a bold claim about New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole

On a recent podcast with NBA player Serge Ibaka (who spent four seasons with the Toronto Raptors), the conversation turned to cheating in baseball. Manoah was asked a point blank question on the subject and didn’t hesitate with his answer, targeting a member of the Yankees.

Cole and the subject of “sticky substances” potentially being used on the mound once again came up earlier this season. It follows a long line of questions about how Cole might use other substances to gain an advantage over his opponents.

But is Cole “the worst cheater in baseball history?” That’s certainly up for debate, but one thing that isn’t up for debate is that the Yankees and Blue Jays keep firing shots at each other any chance they get.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said earlier in the offseason that he would never play for the Yankees, not even dead. Those words came after the Yankees clinched the American League East with a win in Toronto and trolled Guerrero’s words about Rogers Centre being “my house.”

Additionally, Manoah and New York pitcher Luis Severino had some words back in April in the middle of a game … with Cole lurking outside the New York dugout.

New York and Toronto meet for the first time in 2023 in the Bronx from April 21-23, and again in Toronto from may 15-18. Those series will likely have plenty of emotion behind them after an offseason filled with chatter and a 2022 campaign with plenty of moments between the two division rivals.