Blue Jays at Yankees
The New York Yankees withstood a deluge of injuries to post the best record in the American League at the All-Star break and have a chance to pad their advantage atop the AL East when they open a 10-game homestand against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night. New York swept the Blue Jays late last month at Yankee Stadium, although the three games were decided by four runs.
"They put us in a great spot here. But that's all it is right now," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of the 6 1/2-game division lead. "We've got some unfinished business now. We've got a long way to go, but we've put ourselves in a position to have a really special season." All-Star DJ LeMahieu, who leads the AL with a .336 average, is 15-for-26 with three homers and nine RBIs against Toronto this season, including 8-for-12 in last month's sweep. The Blue Jays have as many losses as New York has wins (57) and are playing for the future, which looked considerably brighter after the record-setting performance by rookie Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the Home Run Derby. Catcher Danny Jansen closed the first half on a high note, going 17-for-44 with six homers and 13 RBIs over his last 12 games.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, Sportsnet, TVA Sports (Toronto), YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Aaron Sanchez (3-12, 6.16 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Domingo German (10-2, 3.67)
Sanchez will be looking to halt an eight-start losing streak, although he had a decent performance last time out by giving up two runs on three hits over five innings against Baltimore. That marked a dramatic improvement after a disastrous prior month for the 27-year-old, who was pounded for seven runs at Yankee Stadium en route to an 0-6 record with a woeful 12.00 ERA in June. Brett Gardner homered in his last three games before the break but is only 3-for-22 versus Sanchez.
German missed nearly a month due to a strained left hip flexor but turned in a strong performance in his return to the rotation by limiting the New York Mets to one run and five hits over six innings on July 3. The 26-year-old Dominican had been winless in his three previous starts prior to going on the injured list, allowing 14 runs and seven homers over 14 2/3 innings. Justin Smoak is 2-for-5 against German, who is 4-1 with a 2.37 ERA in six appearances at Yankee Stadium.
WALK-OFFS
1. Yankees C Gary Sanchez has swatted a team-high 24 homers but is only 5-for-27 with one blast versus Toronto.
2. Blue Jays 2B Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was 7-for-14 with three homers in the last three games versus New York.
3. Yankees RF Aaron Judge is 5-for-8 with a homer versus the Blue Jays this season.