Toronto concludes its season series with the Yankees this weekend in the Bronx with New York opening as a -185 favourite on the MLB odds for Friday’s opener – the only night game of the set.

Jays vs Yankees Betting Analysis

The Yankees definitely got better ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline by acquiring Marlins infielder/outfielder Jazz Chisholm as they badly needed another bat to take some pressure off the superstar duo of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. When the Jays next see the Yankees in 2025, Soto may not be in pinstripes as he’s set for free agency. I’m not sure Manager Aaron Boone will be with New York, either, barring at least a trip to the ALCS. The Bombers haven’t been to the World Series since last winning it in 2009. 

George Springer is hitting .382 in the season series with four doubles, two homers and eight RBIs. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is 13-for-39 with four homers and 14 RBIs. Gleyber Torres is hitting .364 vs. Toronto pitching with a homer, four RBIs and eight runs scored. Giancarlo Stanton, who returned from a long IL stint early this week, is 6-for-19 with three homers and eight RBIs. AL MVP favorite Aaron Judge is 10-for-37 two HRs and nine knocked in.

Toronto Blue Jays

The Jays essentially traded anyone not nailed down ahead of the trade deadline and lost three of four in Baltimore to open this week. The pitching staff was hammered, allowing 31 runs. Outfielder Daulton Varsho was taken out of Wednesday’s game after feeling light-headed on a hot day but should be fine.  Fellow outfielder Joey Loperfido went 1-for-5 with a pair of strikeouts in his Blue Jays debut. He was the key piece back in the Yusei Kikuchi trade to Houston. No. 1 catcher Alejandro Kirk missed Wednesday’s game after being hit by a pitch on the elbow Tuesday and is day-to-day. Right-hander Kevin Gausman (9-8, 4.44 ERA) starts Friday on the hill. He has been much, much better on the road at 6-3 with a 2.34 ERA but is 0-2 with a 10.97 ERA in three starts this year vs. the Yankees. Aaron Judge is all-or-nothing career against him, going 11-for-37 with five homers, two doubles and 10 RBIs but also 17 strikeouts.  Juan Soto is 7-for-13 with a double, homer and 11 walks off Gausman. 

New York Yankees

The Yankees had been scuffling for about a month entering the All-Star break and weren’t immediately great out of it but enter on a very impressive five-game winning streak considering the first two wins were in Boston and then they swept three games at the Phillies, who have the best record in the National League. We mentioned the acquisition of Jazz Chisholm above, and he has clearly been energized going to a contender as he’s 6-for-19 with four homers and eight RBIs in his four games with New York — at least one hit and run scored in each. Aaron Judge is all but a lock to win a second career AL MVP Award as he leads the majors with 39 homers and 99 RBIs. The AL Triple Crown is not out of the question with Judge hitting .316, but he’s currently well back of AL leader Bobby Witt Jr. of Kansas City. Right-hander and former Blue Jay Marcus Stroman (7-5, 3.64 ERA) starts on the mound Friday.  He was very good through June but hasn’t been much since and was 0-2 with a 5.50 ERA in July. Stroman has a 2.87 ERA in three starts this year spanning 15.2 innings against Toronto but managed to get a no-decision in each. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is 3-for-12 career off him, all singles. 

MLB Prediction: Who Will Win Blue Jays vs. Yankees?