New York @ Toronto preview
Rogers Centre
Last Meeting ( Jul 14, 2011 ) NY Yankees 7, Toronto 16
THE STORY: Despite a four-game winning streak, the health of slugger Jose Bautista will be foremost on the minds of the Toronto Blue Jays as they prepare to host the New York Yankees in the second of a four-game series Friday night. Bautista, who leads the major leagues with 31 home runs, suffered an ankle injury while sliding into third base during Toronto’s series-opening rout. The Blue Jays said Bautista’s ankle is twisted and listed him as day-to-day. The immediate concern for the Yankees is the health of their pitching staff after watching the Blue Jays pound out a season-high 16 runs and 20 hits Thursday.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, YES, RSN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Freddy Garcia (7-6, 3.13 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Brandon Morrow (5-4, 4.60 ERA).
Garcia is coming off an 11-day layoff after rain wiped out his last start. He was on a roll entering the All-Star break, yielding only seven runs in his last five starts. He was 3-1 and did not allow a home run in that span. Garcia gave up three runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings to defeat Toronto on May 25, lifting his career record against the Jays to 7-6 with a 5.93 ERA. He’ll get a break if he misses Bautista, who is 4-for-8 with two homers against him.
Morrow has started to turn his season around in the past four weeks, going 3-0 in his last five starts while striking out 40 and walking 10. He went a season-high eight innings versus Cleveland in his final start prior to the All-Star break, allowing three runs on eight hits, but did not factor in the decision. Morrow is 2-1 with a 5.19 ERA in 13 appearances (seven starts) against the Yankees. Jorge Posada (7-for-15) and Mark Teixeira (6-for-18) have fared well against him.
ABOUT THE BLUE JAYS (46-47): Toronto, which has amassed 39 runs during the four-game winning streak, can climb back to the .500 mark for the first time since June 26. The Blue Jays scored eight first-inning runs Thursday, all coming with two out. Rookie Eric Thames had three hits and three RBIs and is 9-for-19 in his last four games. Edwin Encarnacion is 10-for-18 in his last four after collecting three hits and three RBIs Thursday. Travis Snider, now riding a six-game hitting streak, is batting .400 (14-for-35) with 10 RBIs since he was recalled from the minors.
ABOUT THE YANKEES (53-36): New York’s nine-year streak of winning its first game after the All-Star break was snapped despite putting up seven runs and 14 hits. Andruw Jones belted a three-run homer and a solo blast to help the Yankees cut a nine-run deficit to 9-7. Four of his six homers this season have come against the Jays. Curtis Granderson’s two-run triple gave him 65 RBIs – two shy of last year’s total. Robinson Cano had three hits to raise his batting average to .300 for the first time since May 7. He’s hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games.
FINAL PITCH: Yankees captain Derek Jeter and Posada played in their 1,660th regular-season game together Thursday. That broke the franchise record held by Lou Gehrig and Tony Lazzeri.