Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Yankees: Odds, Prediction
The Yankees opened as -120 favourites for the opener on the MLB odds.
Jays vs. Yankees Sept. 19 Betting Analysis
The Yankees figure to look a lot different when the Jays see them next spring in Florida. It would be a huge shock if Manager Aaron Boone is back. General Manager Brian Cashman is probably 50/50. He has been in that role since 1998. As for the actual team, Aaron Judge obviously isn’t going anywhere, but the Bombers may take more of a youth movement around him. One of the team’s top prospects, outfielder Jasson Dominguez, made a big splash in his first eight games earlier this month but then went down needing Tommy John surgery. That he’s a position player means he will return sooner.
New York leads the season series 4-3 but is 1-2 at Yankee Stadium. Judge has four homers and seven RBIs. Shortstop Anthony Volpe, who will get some AL Rookie of the Year votes, has two homers. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is hitting .316 off NYY pitching with two homers and seven RBIs. Danny Jansen also has two HRs and seven knocked in.
Toronto Blue Jays
After being swept four games at home early last week by Texas, the Blue Jays faced a defining weekend series vs. Boston at Rogers Centre and swept three, all but ending the Red Sox’s wild card hopes. Toronto improved to 25-19 in one-run games with Sunday’s 3-2 victory. Matt Chapman drove in the game-winning run with an RBI triple in the bottom of the ninth inning, his third career walk-off hit but first with the Jays. Cavan Biggio had two hits Sunday and is batting .333 with a .932 OPS over his past 12. It’s lefty Yusei Kikuchi (9-6, 3.81) on the mound Tuesday. He was rocked last time out by Texas, allowing six runs over five innings and hasn’t personally won since Aug. 2. Kikuchi had made 11 career appearances against the Yankees and is 3-3 with a 3.75 ERA. His lone outing this year was April 21 at Yankee Stadium, and he gave up a run over six. Aaron Judge is 3-for-18 off him with two homers.
New York Yankees
New York technically is alive for a wild card spot, but it’s a matter of time before it is eliminated and misses the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The two goals are to finish .500 or better – NYY hasn’t finished with a losing record since 1992 — and avoid last in the AL East. This begins the Yankees’ final homestand of the year and they are 39-36 at home. Gerrit Cole is almost surely winning the AL Cy Young Award and is scheduled for Thursday’s matchup. It’s converted reliever Clarke Schmidt (9-8, 4.56) on the mound Tuesday. The right-hander has been solid but generally will allow 2-3 runs over five or so innings. Schmidt’s lone outing this year vs. Toronto was April 23 at Yankee Stadium and he allowed three runs over 5.2 innings off a loss. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is 2-for-5 with a homer off him.
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