Yankees @ Blue Jays Series Preview

Yankees @ Blue Jays

Rorgers Centre
(3 games)

After a very successful final homestand that saw the Yankees win 8 out of 10, and the last five straight the Yankees head to Toronto for three games with the fourth place Jays. Although the Yankees are still technically alive this series is basically a battle for third place in the AL East.

The Yanks are 85-71, and they're currently 8.5 games behind the first place Rays, and 6 games behind the Wild Card leading Red Sox. The Yankees tragic number is one. At this point I'd just like to see the Yankees continue to play the kind of baseball they played on the homestand, and at least end this rough year on a high note.

Currently the Jays are two games behind the Yanks for third in the division. They enter the series with a 83-73 record, and they've lost 5 of their last 8. Toronto leads the season series with the Yanks 8 games to 7.

MATCHUPS

Game 1 - Today @ 7:07 p.m.
TV: YES; Radio: WCBS 880
Mike Mussina RHP (18-9, 3.57) vs. Jesse Litsch RHP (12-8, 3.72)

Game 2 - Tomorrow @ 7:07 p.m.
TV: YES; Radio: WCBS 880
Phil Hughes RHP (0-4, 7.96) vs. A.J. Burnett RHP (18-10, 4.18)

Game 3 - Thursday @ 7:07 p.m.
TV: YES; Radio: WCBS 880
Carl Pavano RHP (4-1, 4.99) vs. Roy Halladay RHP (19-11, 2.81)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Yankees - Johnny Damon: Damon has had a very solid year and leads the team in hitting with a .307 batting average. In 182 games against the Jays in his career Damon is hitting .277/.349/.400 with 15 homers and 61 RBI. This season against the Jays he's hitting .400/.481/.533 with no homers and 2 RBI. But he has not had the same success at Rogers Centre where he's hitting .244/.322/.359 with 8 HR and 30 RBI in 86 games.

Damon vs. Litsch: 5-for-11, HR, 2 RBI, .455/.455/.727
Damon vs. Burnett: 4-for-22, HR, RBI, .182/.308/.318
Damon vs. Halladay: 27-for-79, 4 2B, 3B, HR, 2 RBI, .342/.409/.456

Jays - Alex Rios: Rios has been the Jays best hitter this season. He leads the team in batting average (.291), RBI (78), runs (90), and OPS (.801).

He's also always done well against the Yankees. In 77 games against the Yanks in his career Rios is hitting .296/.342/.425, with 4 HR and 29 RBI. In 12 games this season he's hitting .292/.370/.333 with no homers and 8 RBI against the Yanks.

Rios vs. Mussina: 9-for-25, 2 2B, RBI, .360/.407/.440
Rios vs. Hughes: 5-for-12, 2B, 2 RBI, .417/.417/.500
Rios vs. Pavano: 2-for-8, 2B, 3B, .250/.250/.625

INJURY REPORT

Yankees:
- Chien-Ming Wang: out for the year with a mid-foot tearing of the Lisfranc ligament and a partial tear of the peroneal longus tendon.
- Jonathan Albaladejo: is pitching in minor league games, and could get called up after the minor league playoffs have ended.
- Hideki Matsui: his knee is still not quite right, he will have one at-bat on Sunday and then have season-ending knee surgery.
- Jorge Posada: out for the remainder of the season after having shoulder surgery.

Blue Jays:
- Lyle Overbay: day-to-day with soreness in his right hand. Hopes to be in the lineup tonight.
- Shawn Marcum: may need Tommy John surgery and is likely out for the entire 2009 season.
- Dustin McGowan: 15-day after having right shoulder surgery - out for season.
- Aaron Hill: 60-day with a mild concussion.
- Jeremy Accardo: 15-day with right forearm tightness.
- Casey Janssen: 60-day with a torn right labrum - out for season.