New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays: Odds, Prediction
Toronto’s final homestand of the 2023 regular season starts Tuesday against the playoff-eliminated New York Yankees. The Jays are -160 favourites to win on the MLB odds behind Kevin Gausman.
Betting Analysis
We wrote last week ahead of Toronto’s trip to the Bronx – in which the Jays took two of three – that the Yankees were likely to have some significant changes next season both on the field and in the front office, and nothing has changed in that regard. Every day, Yankees players are asked about the future of Manager Aaron Boone and they all say the right things. Still would be a surprise if he’s back.
It is just a bad offensive team right now as teams can largely pitch around 2022 AL MVP Aaron Judge and NYY has very little left-handed power – someone like Toronto’s Brandon Belt, who will be a free agent. Adding a lefty bat will be a priority this winter along with pitching. There’s talk the Yankees want to trade righty slugger Giancarlo Stanton, the former NL MVP, but good luck with his contract, injury history and the fact that Stanton really isn’t that good any longer.
Toronto leads the season series 5-4 but lost three of four at Rogers Centre in mid-May.
New York Yankees
The Yankees had to play what for them was a meaningless makeup game Monday afternoon at home vs. Arizona and rallied for a 6-4 win. Aaron Judge was in the lineup, and Judge and Manager Aaron Boone will have discussions each day this week about the slugger’s playing time the rest of the way with the team eliminated. Judge’s toe injury that caused him to miss several weeks earlier this season still isn’t 100 per cent. So maybe the Jays catch a break in at least one game. A handful of other Yankees already have been shut down. Converted reliever Michael King (4-7, 2.66 ERA) is on the mound Tuesday. He has been terrific this month with a 1.66 ERA in 21.2 innings but is only 1-2. King is 0-1 with a save and 1.69 ERA in 10.2 innings this year vs. Toronto. Bo Bichette is 6-for-19 off him with a double and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 2-for-14 with a triple.
Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto comes off a 4-2 road trip to New York and Florida and is in good shape for the second AL wild card spot, but one major tiebreaker working against the Jays is their awful 19-27 record inside the AL East – although they have won 11 of their past 15. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. may be getting hot at the right time with a two-homer game Sunday to help beat Tampa Bay. It’s right-hander Kevin Gausman (12-9, 3.29 ERA) on the hill Tuesday. He was terrific in beating these Yankees last Wednesday, throwing six shutout innings with 10 strikeouts and only three hits allowed. Gausman is 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA in three starts vs. New York this year and 10-7 with a 3.15 ERA in 151.1 career innings against the Yankees. Aaron Judge is 9-for-31 with three homers and 14 strikeouts off him.
