The New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays are set to conclude their four-game series Thursday night at Rogers Centre, with first pitch scheduled for 7:07 p.m. ET. Both teams currently hold identical records of 48-38, but the Blue Jays have taken a 4-2 lead in the season series against the Yankees.
The Yankees find themselves struggling, having lost three consecutive games in the series with scores of 5-4, 12-5, and 11-9. In Wednesday’s game, they rallied after a rough start where they surrendered seven runs in the first inning, but they managed to equalize at 9 before giving up two runs in the eighth inning. Notable performances included Giancarlo Stanton hitting his first home run of the season and Aaron Judge hitting his 31st. Consequently, the Yankees have dropped four of their last five games.
On the other hand, the Blue Jays have been in good form, winning four straight games and scoring five or more runs in seven of their last ten outings. Highlighting their success, third baseman Addison Barger hit his tenth home run of the season and contributed four RBIs during Wednesday’s match, while outfielder Davis Schneider also made an impact with two home runs, bringing his season tally to three. With this performance, the Jays now stand with a commendable 20-10 record against the Yankees, propelling them to tie for the lead in the AL East.
For the pitching matchup, the Yankees will send right-hander Clarke Schmidt (4-4, 3.09 ERA) to the mound, while the Blue Jays will counter with Chris Bassitt (7-4, 4.29 ERA). Both pitchers have faced their opponents previously, with Schmidt holding a 3.15 ERA in four career starts against the Jays and Bassitt maintaining a strong 1.38 ERA in his last five outings against the Yankees.
Current odds from BetMGM Sportsbook favor the Yankees at -125 on the moneyline, while the Blue Jays sit at +105. The over/under for this game stands at 8.5.
Expert predictions suggest a close contest, with a final score favoring the Yankees 4-3, thus allowing them to avoid a sweep. It’s noted that while the recent games have featured high scores, a shift may occur with both starters showing strong past performances against their respective rivals. The suggestion is to consider betting on the under for a more defensive game.
In light of the Yankees’ recent struggles, the hope remains that they can leverage their pitching strengths and the opportunity to improve their fortunes against a surging Blue Jays team. This matchup not only holds significance for playoff positioning but also offers a chance for both teams to showcase their capabilities in a competitive AL East landscape.