Toronto @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 20, 2013 ) Toronto 4, NY Yankees 8

The New York Yankees are hanging around in the postseason race thanks in part to Alex Rodriguez. The former MVP attempts to lead the Yankees to another pair of wins when they host the Toronto Blue Jays in a doubleheader Tuesday. Rodriguez may be openly feuding with the New York front office through the media, but it certainly looked like he had the support of his teammates after getting hit by a pitch and then slamming a home run Sunday.

Brett Gardner, who was one of the first to rush out of the dugout in support of Rodriguez after the hit-by-pitch, delivered a go-ahead three-run triple in the 9-6 victory that gave the Yankees their sixth win in eight games. The Blue Jays are playing spoiler in the East, but after taking two of three from the first-place Boston Red Sox last week lost two of three to second-place Tampa Bay over the weekend. Toronto will get New York again in the final week of August and plays all four AL East foes in at least one series in September.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), MY9 (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Mark Buehrle (9-7, 4.29 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Phil Hughes (4-12, 4.97)

Buehrle is 4-0 in his last five starts and somehow held Boston to one run while scattering 10 hits in seven innings last week. The veteran control artist has not surrendered more than two walks in any of the last five outings. Buehrle never had much success against New York, owning a 1-10 record with a 6.28 ERA in 15 career starts.

Hughes is 0-5 with a 6.09 ERA in his last seven starts with nine home runs allowed. The free-agent to be was sharper in his last outing, surrendering three runs on six hits in six innings against the Los Angeles Angels. Hughes struck out nine while yielding two runs in six innings against Toronto on April 28 but did not factor in the decision.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees SS Derek Jeter (strained right calf) is taking live batting practice, but is not yet close to a return.

2. Toronto SS Jose Reyes (right knee soreness) missed the last two games and is day-to-day.

3. New York OF Ichiro Suzuki is three hits shy of 4,000 in his professional career between Japan and the major leagues.

PREDICTION: Yankees 7, Blue Jays 6