Blue Jays at Yankees
The New York Yankees look to get their offense back in gear after a frustrating loss when they host to American League East-rival Toronto Blue Jays for the rubber match of a three-game series Sunday afternoon. The AL East-leading Yankees stranded 11 men, including the tying run on third in the bottom of the ninth, before suffering a 2-1 setback on Saturday for their fourth fourth loss in 13 games.
Brett Gardner continued his hot streak with a pair of hits Saturday, improving to 11-for-23 with six extra-base hits over his last six games for New York, which barely extended its streak of games without being shut out to 172 - fifth most in major league history. Masahiro Tanaka gets the ball for the Yankees in the series finale and the Blue Jays counter with fellow right-hander Marcus Stroman, who comes back after missing a little more than two weeks due to injury. Randal Grichuk knocked in both runs for Toronto on Saturday and boasts eight RBIs in his last seven games while rookie Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is 5-for-15 in the past four contests but has not homered in 10 outings. The Blue Jays, who are 17-28 on the road while mired in fourth place, snapped a five-game losing streak against the Yankees with Saturday’s win and are just 6-15 against New York in the last 21 meetings.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, OMNI, TVA (Toronto), YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Marcus Stroman (5-9, 3.18 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Masahiro Tanaka (5-5, 3.86)
Stroman missed a chance to pitch in the All-Star Game due to a cramp in his left shoulder and pectoral muscle, but is expected to be ready for Sunday. The 28-year-old Duke product posted four quality starts in a span of five outings before his last time out on June 29, when he allowed three runs over four innings in a no-decision against Kansas City. Aaron Judge is 7-for-16 with four homers versus Stroman, who was 0-1 with a 9.42 ERA in three starts against the Yankees last year.
Tanaka replaced Stroman on the AL All-Star team after going winless in his last three starts while permitting 12 runs on 18 hits over 13 innings combined. The 30-year-old Japan native has been much better at home this year (4-2, 2.84 ERA) than on the road (1-3, 5.40) and gave up four runs over six innings in a loss at Toronto on June 4. Grichuk is 3-for-10 with a pair of homers and a double against Tanaka, who is 11-5 with a 2.87 ERA in 18 career starts versus the Blue Jays.
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto C Danny Jansen was rested Saturday, but is 11-for-26 with four homers in his last seven games.
2. New York 1B Luke Voit (abdominal) was activated from the injured list Saturday and went 0-for-3 with a pair of walks.
3. Blue Jays SS Freddy Galvis leads the team with 44 RBIs, but saw his eight-game hitting streak come to an end Saturday.