Marco Estrada (10-6, 3.21 ERA) and the Toronto Blue Jays (64-53) go up against Masahiro Tanaka (8-5, 3.79 ERA) and the New York Yankees (63-51) in the second of a three-game division series at the Rogers Centre. The Yankees won the last game 4-3 and New York leads the series 1-0. The game starts at 1:07 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 15 and will air on YES and RSN.
In his last start, Estrada pitched 6.1 innings, giving up zero runs, striking out six and walking three in a 2-0 victory over the Yankees. Josh Donaldson (.293, 85 Rs, 31 HRs, 85 RBIs, 4 SBs) went 1 for 4 yesterday with one run. The Yankees were unsuccessful to the Blue Jays 2-0 the last time Tanaka pitched. He went 6.0 innings, allowing two runs and striking out five. Mark Teixeira (.259, 56 Rs, 30 HRs, 77 RBIs, 2 SBs) went 1 for 4 yesterday with one run.
Toronto is a -118 favorite in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is eight runs. The Blue Jays perform well as a favorite with a 46-24 record and have an overall money line of +558. They are perfect SU and 8-0 as the favorite in their last 10 games. The Blue Jays come into the game with the top-ranked scoring offense in the AL, averaging 5.3 runs per game. The most recent 10 game stretch for Toronto’s pitching staff has gone great. Over that span, Toronto’s opponents are averaging 2.0 runs per game, below their season average of 4.1.
On the other side, the Yankees have a record of 23-25 when they are the underdog and are -13 overall with the money line. Over the past 10 matchups, they are 4-6 SU and have played poorly as the underdog with a 1-3 record. The Yankees seem to play worse against their division opponents. In divisional matchups, New York has averaged 4.3 runs per game, compared to 4.8 for the duration of the season.
The Blue Jays had the upper hand against the Yankees in their previous 10 games this season, earning a 7-3 record. This game will feature Tanaka (RHP) on the mound against the Blue Jays, who have a 49-41 record when they take on a right-handed starter. The right-handed Estrada will take the mound against the Yankees, who have a 41-38 record against righty starters this season.
Predictions: SU Winner – Tor, O/U – Over
Notes
In their last game, the Yankees won by a margin of one run. The Blue Jays are 12-23 in one-run games. The Yankees have a 17-18 record in close games.
New York has won 48% (27-29) of its games when leading after 7 innings. However, Toronto has won 58% (31-22) of its games when taking a late lead.
Having scored zero runs in their last game, the Yankees are going to have to up their game if they want to win this matchup. The Blue Jays have an 8-1 record in games where opponents scored that many runs.
When they outhit their opponents, the Yankees are 41-6. The Blue Jays have a 52-6 record when outhitting opponents.
Ranking first in runs, Toronto has earned 615 this season. New York ranks second with 542 runs.
Toronto and New York both rank in the top five of the league in walks. Toronto sits at fourth with 383 this season and New York ranks fifth with 377.
When the Blue Jays hit at least one home run, they are 58-28, well-matched with the Yankees who are 53-31 when hitting one or more homers.
