Over the weekend, the Yankees showed plenty of resiliency with the division rival Boston Red Sox. When it seemed the Bombers were down and out, they managed to rally whenever it mattered most. Down 3-2? Giancarlo Stanton would produce. Down 4-3? DJ LeMahieu will take it from here. 5-5, bottom of the eleventh? Leave it to Josh Donaldson to introduce himself to the Yankees in style (as only he could do.) The narrative would stay the same Saturday, as Anthony Rizzo would tie the game 2-2 in the fourth inning, and Stanton would take control. But enough looking in the rearview mirror; let’s look at the matchup ahead:
New York Yankees (2-1, 2nd AL East) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (2-1, 3rd AL East, tie break, runs against)
Here is the information to watch or listen to the Yankees this series:
Monday
7:05 PM
Watch on: YES Network
Listen on: 101.9 FM or 660AM
Tuesday
7:05 PM
Watch on: YES Network
Listen on: 101.9 FM or 660AM
Wednesday
7:05 PM
Watch on: MLB Network
Listen on: 101.9 FM or 660AM
Thursday
7:05 PM
Watch on: MLB Network
Listen on: 101.9 FM or 660AM
The Yankees and Blue Jays had respectable starts to their seasons with their 2-1 records. The Yanks received run support against the Sox from all the sluggers you would expect. As stated above, run support from Rizzo and Stanton would ultimately push the Yankees ahead of Boston in the first two games of the series. Additionally, there would be run support provided by DJ LeMahieu, and Sunday would follow the same narrative, being the Rizzo and Stanton show. While it’s always a positive to have production from some of the best on the roster, there still needs to be production from others as well. Understanding that the Yankees still took two out of three games against a division rival, it’s also unrealistic to rely on TWO individuals to carry a team. It should not be hoped for the upcoming series with the Jays but expected that other sluggers within the organization will step up.
The Blue Jays started their 2022 on a high note as well. Going 2-1 against the Texas Rangers, there was production throughout for the Jays. Combining for a team total of 28 hits and 20 runs, it would be safe to say the Jays certainly didn’t lack run support through most of the series. Sunday night would be one to forget, as the Jays would fall 12-6 to the Rangers. This is probably not something that should be an overwhelming concern for the clubhouse because, after all, how often do you score six runs and lose?
Blue Jays first-baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did not wait to get back to his AL MVP finalist way, going 5-for-11, scoring three suns, driving in four, and drawing a walk. Vlad Jr. would also see his first long ball come in Sunday’s loss, traveling 467 feet…at 118 miles per hour.
Please, PLEASE don’t pitch to him.
Matt Chapman, one of the newest members of the Jays, also made his presence known by tallying his first home run of the season Sunday.
Predicting the pitching matchups:
Monday: Jameson Taillon (0-0) vs. Alex Manoah (0-0)
Tuesday: Nestor Cortes (0-0) vs. Yusei Kikuchi (0-0)
Wednesday: Gerrit Cole (0-0) vs. Jose Berrios
Thursday: Luis Severino (0-0) vs. Kevin Gausman (0-0)
All of the predicted pitchers for this series have a chance to put a win (or loss) on their “clean” records this series. As division rivalry games are always important, they become even more critical when a tie in the standings is in play. (Yes, even this early into the season, division games will NEVER not be important, whether it be game two or game 162.) Pitching will be one of, if not the most paid attention to aspects of this series. Seeing this as a four-game series, both clubs will see each other’s aces and mid-rotation starters throughout, and everyone will get more than their fair share of cracks at each other’s bullpens. It would be fair to say that the series in its entirety will be dictated to the pitching staff.
Players to watch: Gerrit Cole, Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres
While it may be a shock to have Gerrit Cole on a watchlist, it should also come as no shock. Cole did not have a solid outing to open the season, allowing three earned runs on four hits, only obtaining three strikeouts, and allowing a walk. In all reality, there shouldn’t be too much to be worried about with Cole, except one thing. You cannot, and I repeat, CANNOT, underperform in a division game. I know, I have referenced division this and division that probably a dozen times now, but if you can’t perform in the American League DIVISION Series, you nor your clubhouse go very far into the postseason. Expect Cole to have a massive rebound in this series.
Aaron Judge will naturally have eyes on him for the rest of the season. After failing to agree to a new contract before Opening Day, Judge has expressed that he will go to free agency and speak to all 30 MLB clubs this winter. While this probably wouldn’t be an issue, Judge would turn down a seven-year, $213.5 million contract that would have made him the highest-paid position player in Yankees history. He would then follow up his claims by going 4-for-13 with three strikeouts in the season-opening series. Probably not an ideal way to make a case for turning down that kind of money. It would be ideal to see Judge breakout into his mid-season form early into the season this week, and against a team he flaunts a .306 batting average and 24 round-trippers against lifetime.
Like Judge, Gleyber Torres is another player who will be under a fan and management microscope this season. In six at-bats against Boston, Torres boasted a .167 average, with a double, RBI, and a strikeout. Credit is given where it’s due, and some of his at-bats were coming off the bench. Torres did not get a start in the field until Sunday’s matchup, where he would go 1-for-3. Assuming Torres will start at least two of these games, it is still yet to be seen if Torres can return to being the second base slugger he has been in the past.
Series expectation: Split series, 2-2.
To round off this preview, let’s end with a fun fact. In the 44 years the Yankees and Blue Jays have faced off (excluding the 1994 lockout season), the Yankees hold a career record of 373-307 against Toronto while also holding a 197-143 at Yankee Stadium. Despite all the matchups between the two, the Yankees and Blue Jays have never met in the playoffs. Could that change this year? It’s possible.
