New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe throws past Toronto Blue Jays catcher Brandon Valenzuela to complete a double play in the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. The New York Yankees did not enjoy their visits to Toronto to play the Blue Jays last season.
They hope to set a better precedent Friday night when they visit the Blue Jays to open a three-game series.
In their first visit to Toronto last season, the Yankees were swept in a four-game series June 30-July 3. New York lost two of three during its next visit, July 21-23.
Then the Yankees dropped both games in Toronto during the Blue Jays’ four-game victory in the American League Division Series.
New York does have momentum for this visit, coming off a three-game sweep of its road series against the Cleveland Guardians that concluded with an 8-4 victory on Wednesday. The Yankees, playing without the injured Aaron Judge since June 2, have won four in a row.
“We have people capable of stepping in and doing their job, and they’ve done a good job of that these past few days,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
The Blue Jays dropped the rubber match of a three-game home series with the Philadelphia Phillies 7-4 on Wednesday. They are 3-3 on their current homestand, which ends with the series against the Yankees.
New York will be without Judge for at least a couple of months because of a stress fracture in a rib as they battle with the Tampa Bay Rays for the top spot in the American League East.
“Nothing changes for everybody in this (clubhouse),” said Trent Grisham, who went 2-for-4 with three runs and a stolen base Wednesday. “We know how great of a player (Judge) is, we know what he means to this team, we know what he means to this clubhouse. But I think everybody talks about it on the outside, but on the inside, it’s business as usual. Our job remains the same.”
The Blue Jays and Yankees split a four-game series in New York, May 18-21.
The Yankees are scheduled to start left-hander Ryan Weathers (2-4, 3.86 ERA) on Friday. He is 1-0 with a 4.63 ERA in two career starts against the Blue Jays. He allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings on May 18 and did not figure in the decision in New York’s 7-6 win.
The Blue Jays are expected to start right-hander Trey Yesavage (2-3, 3.16). The Yankees have found him difficult in two confrontations. He held them hitless with 11 strikeouts over 5 1/3 scoreless innings in Game 2 of the ALDS. This season, on May 20, he held New York scoreless on two hits across six innings in a 2-1 win.
Toronto’s lineup continues to be fluid. After George Springer was given Tuesday off, he was back in the leadoff spot on Wednesday and went 1-for-3 with two walks. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who batted leadoff on Tuesday, was back in the No. 2 spot Wednesday and finished 1-for-3 with two walks and one RBI.
Springer has been used as the designated hitter this season but could soon see some time in the outfield.
“He’s doing some things behind the scenes to keep himself available to do it,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “It won’t be all the time, but in a perfect world, yes, you can get him out there and balance out the handedness a little bit.”
Toronto designated reliever Connor Seabold for assignment on Wednesday to make room for Max Scherzer, who returned from the injured list to allow five runs in 3 1/3 innings. He also became the 11th pitcher in MLB history to reach 3,500 career strikeouts.
–Field Level Media
