Blue Jays at Yankees
Edwin Encarnacion has been mired in a dreadful slump since he was acquired by the New York Yankees last month, but the sight of one of his former teams helped the slugger snap out of his funk. The Yankees can extend their undefeated series streak to nine in a row when they host the Toronto Blue Jays in the second of a three-game set on Saturday afternoon.
Encarnacion hit just .123 in his first 16 games in the Bronx but he delivered the decisive blow with a three-run double in Friday's 4-0 victory. Brett Gardner matched Encarnacion with a pair of hits to extend his hitting streak to five games as New York improved to 10-1 in its last 11 at home. While the Yankees are an American League-best 58-31, the Blue Jays managed only six singles in their 58th loss of the year -- and fourth straight at Yankee Stadium since June 24. Catcher Danny Jansen has hit safely in 11 of the last 13 games to raise his batting average from .166 to a season-high .213.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, Sportsnet, TVA Sports (Toronto), YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Clayton Richard (1-5, 6.23 ERA) vs. Yankees LH J.A. Happ (7-4, 5.02)
Richard registered his third straight quality start on Saturday versus Baltimore but took the loss after giving up three earned runs and seven hits over six innings. Sidelined for most of the first two months due to a knee injury, he earned his first victory of the season by holding Kansas City to three runs and seven hits over six innings on July 1. DJ LeMahieu is 8-for-26 with a homer off Richard, who suffered the loss at Yankee Stadium on June 25 with six innings of three-run ball.
Happ went 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA down the stretch a year ago after he was traded from the Blue Jays to the Yankees, but he has not been as consistent in his second season in the Bronx. The 36-year-old closed out the first half with a no-decision at Tampa Bay, allowing one run and three hits over 5 1/3 innings after getting shelled for eight runs by Houston in his previous turn. Eric Sogard is 4-for-8 versus Happ, who beat the Jays with seven innings of one-run ball on June 6 in Toronto.
WALK-OFFS
1. Encarnacion's three-run double boosted New York's average to an AL-best .416 with the bases loaded.
2. Blue Jays RHP Marcus Stroman (pectoral) threw a bullpen Friday and will start the series finale.
3. The Yankees are expected to activate 1B Luke Voit (abdomen) off the injured list on Saturday.