Yankees at Blue Jays
The New York Yankees will try to start another winning streak and get their bats going again when they continue a four-game series at the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. After opening the set with a 12-6 win to push their season-high winning streak to nine games - during which they averaged nearly nine runs per game -the Yankees fell 8-2 on Friday while going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
Teoscar Hernandez homered twice for the Blue Jays, who have won eight of their last 12. Mike Tauchman continued his torrid stretch for New York with a solo homer and a single in the loss, improving to 14-for-32 with six home runs over a nine-game span. He and his teammates will take aim Saturday at rookie Jacob Waguespack, who has won two straight for Toronto. Chad Green takes the ball for the Yankees as he operates as the opener for the 10th time.
TV: 3:07 p.m. ET, YES (New York), Sportsnet, Sportsnet One (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Chad Green (2-3, 4.93 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Jacob Waguespack (3-1, 4.00)
Green saw action in the series opener with one inning of work and last started Aug. 3 against Boston. He has a 2.13 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings as a starter this year. Fellow right-hander Chance Adams, who threw 2 1/3 innings at Baltimore on Wednesday, is a candidate to eat up some of the middle innings.
Waguespack permitted four hits and one walk while striking out four over six innings of a 2-0 victory at Tampa Bay on Monday. The Louisiana native, who was picked in the 37th round by Pittsburgh in 2012, makes his eighth appearance (sixth start) on Saturday. Waguespack, who has never faced the Yankees or any of their players, is 2-1 with a 3.67 ERA and 1.37 WHIP as a starter.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Yankees acquired LHP Joe Mantiply from Cincinnati for cash considerations.
2. Blue Jays C Danny Jansen hit a three-run homer Friday and is 9-for-22 with a pair of home runs versus New York this season.
3. Yankees INF DJ LeMahieu went 2-for-4 on Friday and is 9-for-21 during a five-game hitting streak.