Yankees vs. Blue JaysRogers Centre
(3 Game Series)
Ladies and Gentlemen the New York Yankees are back. After a tough stretch of games where they played division rivals, division leaders, and their cross town rivals the Yankees came home and beat up on some bad teams taking 6 out of 7 games at home. It could have been 7 of 7 if not for one bullpen implosion. The Yanks managed their tough stretch, took their time and got healthy, and besides Nick Johnson the lineup is ready to go.
The Toronto Blue Jays have been the surprise team in the AL East this season, despite hitting a wall recently for a good part of the first two months they sat in third place in the East when many "experts" thought they would be even worse than the Orioles. Despite some recent struggles due to a more difficult schedule the Blue Jays have proven to be a formidable opponent whom can hit and pitch. The word around the league this year has been that the ball is flying out of the ballpark in Toronto where the Blue Jays have hit 49 so far this year. Toronto may be a better team than many predicted, but at some point they will come back to earth and with back to back to back series with the Rays and Yankees that time could be now.
With the Yankees on a roll this may be the perfect opportunity to get Alex Rodriguez going. While he has been playing better of late he must feel very comfortable in the Rogers Centre. In 89 career games in Toronto he has hit .303 with 32 HR's and 86 RBI. Those numbers are absurdly good. If Alex Rodriguez could go on a hot streak and carry this team for a week or so it would be perfect timing. Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, and Nick Swisher have been playing out of this world for the last two weeks and are bound to slow down. It's time for someone else to step up and that person very well may be A-rod.
The Yankees are in a good place right now. We sit just 2 games back in the AL East and while it may be to early to look the Yankees lead the Wild Card race. However right now is the perfect stretch to make a move on the Rays. The Yankees will face the Blue Jays for three, the Orioles for three, followed by the Astros for three before they meet the Phillies at the stadium. With solid play the Yankees should make up some ground on the Rays over that stretch. It starts tonight in Toronto.
YANKEES:
- DH/1B Nick Johnson is on the 60-day DL with an inflamed tendon in the wrist. Had Surgery on Tuesday out until Late July.
- RHP Alfredo Aceves is on the 15-day DL with lower back discomfort. Is in Tampa to begin rehab
Note: With Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson, and Jorge Posada either nicked up or just off the DL look for some of these guys to get a day off or at least a half day off at the DH slot.
BLUE JAYS:
- RHP Dirk Hayhurst is out for the season. Frayed right Labrum
- RHP Scott Richmond is on the 60-day DL with a shoulder impingement
- LHP Jesse Litsch is on the 60-day DL with a torn right elbow ligament
- LHP Brian Tallet is on the 15-day DL with left forearme soreness
- RHP Dustin McGowan is on the 60-day DL with a frayed labrum in the right shoulder
- LF Travis Snider is on the 15-day DL with a sore right wrist
(3 Game Series)
Ladies and Gentlemen the New York Yankees are back. After a tough stretch of games where they played division rivals, division leaders, and their cross town rivals the Yankees came home and beat up on some bad teams taking 6 out of 7 games at home. It could have been 7 of 7 if not for one bullpen implosion. The Yanks managed their tough stretch, took their time and got healthy, and besides Nick Johnson the lineup is ready to go.
The Toronto Blue Jays have been the surprise team in the AL East this season, despite hitting a wall recently for a good part of the first two months they sat in third place in the East when many "experts" thought they would be even worse than the Orioles. Despite some recent struggles due to a more difficult schedule the Blue Jays have proven to be a formidable opponent whom can hit and pitch. The word around the league this year has been that the ball is flying out of the ballpark in Toronto where the Blue Jays have hit 49 so far this year. Toronto may be a better team than many predicted, but at some point they will come back to earth and with back to back to back series with the Rays and Yankees that time could be now.
With the Yankees on a roll this may be the perfect opportunity to get Alex Rodriguez going. While he has been playing better of late he must feel very comfortable in the Rogers Centre. In 89 career games in Toronto he has hit .303 with 32 HR's and 86 RBI. Those numbers are absurdly good. If Alex Rodriguez could go on a hot streak and carry this team for a week or so it would be perfect timing. Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, and Nick Swisher have been playing out of this world for the last two weeks and are bound to slow down. It's time for someone else to step up and that person very well may be A-rod.
The Yankees are in a good place right now. We sit just 2 games back in the AL East and while it may be to early to look the Yankees lead the Wild Card race. However right now is the perfect stretch to make a move on the Rays. The Yankees will face the Blue Jays for three, the Orioles for three, followed by the Astros for three before they meet the Phillies at the stadium. With solid play the Yankees should make up some ground on the Rays over that stretch. It starts tonight in Toronto.
Matchups
Game 1: Tonight @ 7:07 p.m. | TV: YES | Radio: WCBS
RHP A.J. Burnett (6-2, 3.28) vs. LHP Brett Cecil (5-2, 3.81)
Game 2: Saturday @ 1:07 p.m. | TV: YES | Radio: WCBS
LHP Andy Pettitte (7-1, 2.48) vs. LHP Ricky Romero (5-2, 3.14)
Game 3: Sunday @ 1:07 p.m. | TV: YES & TBS | Radio: WCBS
RHP Javier Vazquez (4-5, 6.06) vs. RHP Brandon Morrow (4-4, 6.00)
Game 1: Tonight @ 7:07 p.m. | TV: YES | Radio: WCBS
RHP A.J. Burnett (6-2, 3.28) vs. LHP Brett Cecil (5-2, 3.81)
Game 2: Saturday @ 1:07 p.m. | TV: YES | Radio: WCBS
LHP Andy Pettitte (7-1, 2.48) vs. LHP Ricky Romero (5-2, 3.14)
Game 3: Sunday @ 1:07 p.m. | TV: YES & TBS | Radio: WCBS
RHP Javier Vazquez (4-5, 6.06) vs. RHP Brandon Morrow (4-4, 6.00)
Three Questions
- Will Alex Rodriguez' power return in a park he hits so well in?
- Can the Yankees pitching slowdown the homer happy Blue Jays?
- How will Robinson Cano impress us this series?
Injury Report
YANKEES:
- DH/1B Nick Johnson is on the 60-day DL with an inflamed tendon in the wrist. Had Surgery on Tuesday out until Late July.
- RHP Alfredo Aceves is on the 15-day DL with lower back discomfort. Is in Tampa to begin rehab
Note: With Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson, and Jorge Posada either nicked up or just off the DL look for some of these guys to get a day off or at least a half day off at the DH slot.
BLUE JAYS:
- RHP Dirk Hayhurst is out for the season. Frayed right Labrum
- RHP Scott Richmond is on the 60-day DL with a shoulder impingement
- LHP Jesse Litsch is on the 60-day DL with a torn right elbow ligament
- LHP Brian Tallet is on the 15-day DL with left forearme soreness
- RHP Dustin McGowan is on the 60-day DL with a frayed labrum in the right shoulder
- LF Travis Snider is on the 15-day DL with a sore right wrist
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Yankee Stadium when I attend games.
account for the blog as an individual writer. Click here to follow SIH on twitter and here to follow me on twitter. I will be posting breaking news, occasionally live blogging, as well as posting photo's from
Yankee Stadium when I attend games.
