Blue Jays vs. Yankees Series preview
One team is playing out the string … and it’s not the Jays
Starting Pitchers:
Tuesday (7:07 p.m.) – RH Michael King (4-7, 2.66) vs. RH Kevin Gausman (12-9, 3.29)
Wednesday (7:07 p.m.) –RH Gerrit Cole (14-4, 2.75) vs. RH Jose Berrios (11-11, 3.58)
Thursday (7:07 p.m.) – RH Luke Weaver (1-0, 2.89) vs. RH Chris Bassitt (15-8, 3.74)
What Jays need to do at home: The Jays can take care of their own business by winning three games on this homestand and, thus, reaching 90 wins. Given the AL West schedule for the Rangers, Astros and M’s, it’s impossible for all three teams to reach the 90-win plateau, meaning the Jays with three wins will qualify as either Wildcard 2 or 3. The Jays can still make it onto the October dance floor with fewer than three of six wins on this final homestand, if the Rangers continue to dominate the M’s, or if the Astros lose the series in Seattle – or if the Astros lose games in their season-closing Arizona series.
Yankees (78-77 + Monday vs. D’backs): The Yankees bullpen has forever been an intimidating group that allows the Yankees to feel they are in every game, shutting down opponents with big arms in late innings. Such is not the case this year as the Yankees have failed to make the post-season for the first time since 2016. Unavailable to the ‘pen, currently on the IL are familiar names, RH Jonathan Loaisaga, LH Wandy Peralta, RH Albert Abreu, RH Keynan Middleton and RH Lou Trivino. The Yankees are 30-38 since the fourth of July, which coincides, pretty much, with the toe injury to MVP RF Aaron Judge. GM Brian Cashman long ago came to terms with the 2023 reality, throwing in the towel in terms of post-season, nevertheless, the Yankees are never a team to be taken for granted, even in the final week of a lost season. Despite a young, inexperienced group of position players that would have to buy a ticket to get into the Hall-of-Fame they maintain their mystique and remain the Bronx Bombers. The everyday batting order features just four familiar names, with DH Giancarlo Stanton struggling badly, but, on many days, there are five rookies. The only first-year Yankee who has firmly established himself is SS Anthony Volpe, a rare Yankees 20HR/20SB rookie.
Blue Jays (87-69): The Jays are 5-5 vs. the Yankees this year. Are 12-5 vs. the AL East since Aug. 2. The Jays much-needed position-player leadership has started to emerge from veterans like RF George Springer, 1B Vlad Guerrero Jr., SS Bo Bichette and CF Kevin Kiermaier. The 15 minutes of fame for the Buffalo Boys is up – at least for 2023. There is future promise for 2B Davis Schneider and the others that helped the club through a two-week stretch, but the bottom line for now is that Schneider is hitless in his last 29 at-bats. The Jays offence is still struggling to score runs, especially early in games, against starters like King and Cole at Yankee Stadium last week. The Jays will try to correct that frailty against the same two starters, at home. The Jays bullpen is deep and talented and combined with a healthy, reliable rotation, gives them an advantage over most teams, with a chance to win every day.
Blue Jays remaining Schedule (6): vs. New York (3), vs. Tampa Bay (3).
Astros remaining Schedule (6): @ Seattle (3), @ Arizona (3).
Mariners remaining Schedule (7): vs. Houston (3), vs. Texas (4).
Rangers remaining Schedule (7): @ Angels (3), @ Seattle (4).