New York @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 10, 2012 ) NY Yankees 10, Toronto 4

The New York Yankees appear to be back on track after a brief rough stretch. They would undoubtedly like to see the same thing happen to right-hander Ivan Nova, who takes the hill Saturday afternoon as the Yankees resume their three-game series with the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. Nova's last two starts have been positively dreadful - and with the American League East still very much up for grabs, the Yankees need him to turn things around in a hurry.

New York came out swinging in Friday's series opener, with Ichiro Suzuki leading the charge in a 10-4 victory. The Japanese legend equaled a career high with five RBIs as the Yankees ended a three-game losing streak in Toronto. Looking to even the series is Blue Jays left-hander Aaron Laffey, who pitched briefly for the Yankees last season and would probably rather be in the pinstripes than lining up against them. The teams come into this one even in the season series at three wins apiece.

TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, YES (New York), RSN-1 (Toronto), MLB Network

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Ivan Nova (10-6, 4.81 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Aaron Laffey (3-2, 4.39)

Nova is reeling from the worst two-start stretch of his young career, torched for 16 runs over just 10 1/3 innings in one-sided losses to the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers. The 25-year-old Dominican hurler is winless in his last five starts overall, but was coming off back-to-back quality starts against Seattle and Oakland before coming unglued. With a banged-up Toronto club in his sights, Nova will look to improve upon his already decent numbers against the Blue Jays (2-1, 3.75 ERA in five appearances).

Laffey's 11-game stint with the Yankees in 2011 provided him with some much-needed relief from a team that has had his number. The 27-year-old has allowed 10 earned runs over 7 2/3 innings against New York - six of which came in a forgettable 1 1/3-inning stint while with the Cleveland Indians back in May 2010. He was shaky in his last outing - surrendering four runs over six innings - but held on long enough to earn his third win in eight starts since joining the rotation.

WALK-OFFS

1. Blue Jays OF Colby Rasmus likely won't be in the lineup Saturday after aggravating a groin injury late in Friday's loss. He is considered day-to-day.

2. The only two players on the Toronto roster to homer off Nova - RF Jose Bautista and 1B/DH Adam Lind - are both injured.

3. Ichiro is batting .353 (6-for-17) with nine RBIs over his last four games.