NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:
AT A GLANCE: The Yankees begin a seven-game road trip tonight with the first game of a four-game set at Toronto (through Thurs.)…will also play a three-game series at Cincinnati this weekend (Fri.-Sun.)…went 5-2 on their seven-game homestand, sweeping a three-game set vs. Oakland and splitting a four-game series vs. Tampa Bay.
Are 5-2 in their last seven games and 8-4 in their last 12 games.
Have won or split three of their last four series (since 5/1) and nine of their 13 series this season (going 7-4-2).
Are 11 days into a 17-day stretch (5/5-21) without an off day (6-4 so far)…are also in a 34-day stretch with just one off day (4/18-5/21).
Are in a stretch of playing 11-of-14 games (5/5-18) and 14-of-20 games (5/5-25) against the AL East…are 3-4 so far.
Six of the Yankees’ last eight wins have been come-from-behind wins.
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Yankees fell to the Rays, 8-7, in their series finale on Sunday at Yankee Stadium…RHP Clarke Schmidt (4.2IP, 6H, 7R/ER, 3BB, 5K, 0HR, 1WP) recorded his fourth loss of the season after allowing a career-high 7R/ER…2B/LF Oswaldo Cabrera (3-for-4, 2R, 1HR, 2RBI) tied his career high with 3H and hit his third home run of the season with a two-run shot in the third inning…1B Anthony Rizzo (1-for-3, 1R, 1HR, 2RBI, 1BB) hit his team-leading ninth HR of the season with a go-ahead two-run HR in the third inning…RF Aaron Judge (1-for-5, 1RBI) hit an RBI single in the seventh inning…SS Anthony Volpe (2-for-4, 1R, 1HR, 2RBI) hit his sixth home run of the season with a two-run HR in the eighth inning…RHP Albert Abreu (2.1IP, 2H, 1ER, 1BB, 3K, 1HR) entered the game with the bases loaded in the fifth inning and surrendered a go-ahead grand slam to Taylor Walls…RHP Ryan Weber (1.0IP, 1H) and RHP Ron Marinaccio (1.0IP, 2K) were both scoreless in relief…Yankees Pitching Coach Matt Blake was ejected by HP umpire Mike Muchlinski in the fifth inning.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: INF Anthony Volpe hit his sixth home run of the season on Sunday with a two-run HR in the eighth inning…has 3HR and 8RBI in his last five games.
Is batting .300/.300/.750 (6-for-20) with 4R, 3HR, 8RBI and 2SB in his last five games.
Has reached base in 11 of his last 14 starts and 25 of his last 30 starts.
His 13SB are the second-most in the AL and fifth-most in the Majors…according to Elias, is the first Yankee to steal his first 13 career bases without getting caught (since 1921 when caught stealing was first recorded in the American League)…surpassed Joe DiMaggio (first 12SB with 0CS from 1936-38).
DARTH BADER: OF Harrison Bader has reached base in 11 of 12 games this season, batting .333/.378/.643 (14-for-42) with 9R, 2 triples, 3HR, 11RBI, 2BB, 1HP and 1SB.
Has reached base in each of his last 10 games (since 5/5), the fourth-longest on-base streak of his career…trails only three 11-game streaks from 5/17(G2)-31/22, 5/7-19/21 and 4/10-25/18 (all with St. Louis).
Has struck out just three times in 45 plate appearances this season.
ALL RISE: OF Aaron Judge hit an RBI single in the seventh inning on Sunday…has 5RBI in his last two games…has recorded 7RBI in six games since returning from the I.L.
His 28 career HR vs. the Blue Jays are his second-most against any club (37HR vs. Baltimore).
WHERE’S OSWALDO: INF/OF Oswaldo Cabrera tied his career high with three hits on Sunday vs. Tampa Bay (fifth time in his career and second this season – also 4/7 at Baltimore) and hit his third home run of the season with a two-run shot in the third inning.
Has 5RBI in his last three games and 8RBI in his last seven games.
Is batting .364/.423/.682 (8-for-22) with 4R, 1 double, 2HR, 8RBI, 2BB, 1HP and 1SB over his last seven games (since 5/7).
NOBODY BEATS THE RIZZ: INF Anthony Rizzo hit his team-leading ninth HR of the season on Sunday with a go-ahead two-run HR in the third inning…has 3HR in his last three games.
Is tied for third in the AL this season in hits (48)…also ranks sixth in the in the AL in OPS (.921) and seventh in BA (.312) and OBP (.395).
Owns a season-high 13-game on-base streak (since 5/1), batting .373/.448/.627 (19-for-51) with 14R, 1 double, 4HR, 9RBI and 7BB over that stretch…marks his longest on-base streak since a 17-game streak with the Cubs from 4/28-5/17/21.
Has multiple hits in five of his last seven games since 5/8, batting .444/.500/.815 (12-for-27) with 10R, 1 double, 3HR, 7RBI and 3BB in that span…also has multiple hits in seven of his last 12 games.
Has reached base via H/BB/HP in 19-of-36 plate appearances over his last eight games (13H, 6BB, .528 OBP).
Has reached base in 17 of his last 18 games and 36 of his 41 games this season.
Is batting .323/.397/.546 (42-for-130) with 24R, 5 doubles, 8HR, 18RBI, 12BB and 4HP in his last 34 games (since 4/9).
Has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games and 15 of his last 18 games.
Has reached base multiple times in each of his last three games, seven of his last eight games and nine of his last 12 games.
CALENDAR DAYS: The Yankees have hit 26HR in 13 games during the month of May, the most home runs in the Majors in that span…also rank second in the Majors in May in SLG (.491), tied for second in runs scored (76), third in OPS (.821), fourth in runs scored per game (5.85), tied for sixth in extra-base hits (44) and rank seventh in BA (.263).
Their 5.84 PA/K ratio in May is the best in the Majors.
BRONX BOMBERS: The Yankees have hit 60HR this season, the second-most home runs in the AL and the fifth-most in the Majors.
Have hit at least 3HR in three straight games, their longest such streak since a three-game streak from 8/24-27/21… have not hit at least 3HR in four straight games since a four-game stretch from 8/5-8/19…have also hit at least 3HR in four of their last five games and five of their last seven games…prior to this seven-game stretch, had hit 3HR in just four of their first 35 games of the season.
Have hit multiple HR in seven of their last eight games and nine of their last 12 games (since 5/2).
Have hit 20HR in their last eight games.
Have recorded at least eight hits in 11 of their last 12G.
Have scored at least 6R in seven of their last eight games (since 5/7), scoring 59R in that span.
LEMACHINE: INF DJ LeMahieu owns a season-high 13- game on-base streak (since 4/30)…marks his longest on-base streak since a 15-game streak from 4/12-29/22… is batting .313 (15-for-48) with 7R, 1 double, 2HR, 7RBI and 6BB over that stretch.
Has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games (since 5/1).
Is a career .342 (88-for-257) batter with 42R, 19 doubles, 1 triple, 10HR, 31RBI, 21BB and 4SB in 66 games vs. the Blue Jays…is his second-highest BA against any opponent in his career (min. 10G)…in 63 games vs. Toronto as a Yankee, has hit .347 (86-for-248) with 42R, 18 doubles,
1 triple, 10HR, 31RBI and 21BB…owns the highest BA among players with at least 100PA against the Blue Jays as a Yankee (next: Oscar Gamble, .331, 48-for-145).
GLEYBER DAY: INF Gleyber Torres owns a season-high 10- game on-base streak (since 5/5), his longest such streak since a 20-game streak from 9/5-27/22…has reached base in 20 of his last 23 games (since 4/20) and 23 of his last 27G (since 4/15).
His 8.00 PA/K (168PA/21K) rate this season is the best of his career…his 7.64 PA/BB rate this year is the second-best of his career (7.27 in a 60-game shortened season in 2020).
JAKE RAKES: INF/OF Jake Bauers is batting .429 (6-for-14) with 4R, 1HR, 3RBI, 2BB and 1SF in his last six games (since 5/9).
STARTING PITCHER – RHP JHONY BRITO (2-3, 5.81 ERA)
RHP Jhony Brito is expected to make his ninth appearance of the season (first in relief) in tonight’s series opener at Toronto…the 25-year-old will pitch on regular four days’ rest…made his eighth start of the season on Wednesday vs. Oakland, allowing 2ER over 4.1IP (5H, 2BB, 3K, 2HR, 1HP) without recording a decision…is just the fifth pitcher in Yankees history to allow 4H-or-fewer in five of his first eight career starts, joining Bill Burbach (five such starts in 1969), Dave Righetti (five such starts from 1979-81), Sam Militello (five such starts in 1992) and Luis Gil (five such starts in 2021)…became the first pitcher in franchise history to allow 3H-or-fewer in four of his first five career starts…became the first pitcher in Yankees history to throw at least 5.0IP, allow 3H-or-fewer and allow 1R-or-fewer in each of his first two career Major League starts…was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on 3/30 and made his first career Opening Day roster…over parts of five minor league seasons in the Yankees organization (2016-17, ’19, ’21-22), has gone 26-21 with two saves and a 3.71 ERA (392.2IP, 375H, 196R/162ER, 81BB, 344K, 28HR) in 86 career appearances (70 starts)…was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on 11/9/15.
LAST TIME OUT: Made his eighth start of the season on Wednesday vs. Oakland, allowing 2ER over 4.1IP (5H, 2BB, 3K, 2HR, 1HP) without recording a decision.
Did not allow a hit to 11 of his last 13 batters faced.
Surrendered back-to-back HRs to Carlos Pérez and Jace Peterson in the second inning…has allowed 2HR in each of his last two starts (also 2HR on 5/5 at Tampa Bay) after allowing just 2HR in his first six starts of the season.
2023: Is 2-3 with a 5.81 ERA (31.0IP, 20ER) and 22K in eight starts this season…has allowed 2R-or-fewer in five of his eight starts, including 1R-or-fewer
in three starts…has allowed 3H-or-fewer in four of his eight starts.
His eight starts are tied for the most in the Majors among rookie pitchers this season.
Took his third loss of the season on 4/29 at Texas despite allowing just 2ER over 5.0IP (4H, 1BB, 5K, 1HR)…became just the third pitcher in Yankees history to allow 4H-or-fewer in five of his first six career starts, joining Dave Righetti (five such starts from 1979-81) and Luis Gil (five such starts in 2021).
Took the loss on 4/24 at Minnesota after allowing 3ER over 2.2IP (3H, 3BB, 1K)…marked his fourth start this season with 3H-or-fewer allowed…became the first pitcher in franchise history to allow 3H-or-fewer in four of their first five career starts.
Did not record a decision in the Yankees’ 3-2, extra-innings victory vs. Los Angeles-AL on 4/19 (4.1IP, 3H, 1ER, 3BB, 3K)…marked his third start this season with 1R allowed-or-fewer…became just the third pitcher in Yankees history to allow 1R-or-fewer in three of his first four career starts, joining Chase Whitley (three such starts in 2014) and Luis Gil (three such starts in 2021)…marked his third start this season with 3H allowed-or-fewer…became just the second Yankees pitcher in franchise history to allow 3H-or-fewer in three of their first four career starts (Luis Gil, three such starts in 2021).
Took his first career loss in the Yankees’ 11-2 defeat on 4/13 vs. Minnesota, allowing 7ER in 0.2IP (6H, 1BB, 0K, 1HR)…marked the shortest outing by a Yankees starter (not including openers) since Jameson Taillon on 6/12/21 at Philadelphia (0.1IP)…were the most runs allowed by a Yankees starter who didn’t make it out of the first inning since Nathan Eovaldi on 6/16/15 at Miami (8R/ER in 0.2IP).
Earned his second career win in the Yankees’ 4-1 victory on 4/8 at Baltimore, allowing just 1ER over 5.0IP (3H, 2BB, 2K)…retired 14 of his final 17BF after surrendering two singles and a sacrifice fly to his first 3BF…became the first pitcher in Yankees history to throw at least 5.0IP, allow 3H-or-fewer and allow 1R-or-fewer in each of his first two career Major League starts (also 5.0IP, 2H, 0R in his Major League debut on 4/2 vs. San Francisco).
Is just the seventh pitcher in Yankees history to toss at least 5.0IP and allow 1R-or-fewer in each of his first two career appearances, joining Cliff Markle (first five appearances from 1915-16), Luis Gil (first two in 2021), Orlando Hernández (first two in 1998), Rich Beck (first two in 1965), Jack Quinn (first two in 1909) and Slow Joe Doyle (first two in 1906)…is just the sixth to do so as a starter (Markle made his first career appearance as a reliever).
Became the 15th pitcher in franchise history to win each of his first two career starts and the first since Orlando Hernández in 1998.
HITTIN’ THE ROAD: Is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA (16.2IP, 10ER) and 10K in four starts on the road this season…in 13 road games (11 starts) with Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2022, went 5-3 with a 4.10 ERA (52.2IP, 24ER) and 48K.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays plated a pair of runs in the 9th yesterday to earn a walk-off, 6-5, win over the Braves…Marked their 3rd walk-off victory of the year…Completed their 3rd sweep of the season…Improved to 7-4 in one-run contests. Toronto has now won six of its last eight games and 15 of its last 23…Is 9-4-0 in series play this year, and a perfect 5-0-0 at home…Have twice previously won at least five consecutive home series to begin a campaign, taking five in 2001 and winning six in a row to start the 1990 season (courtesy Stats Perform).
DANNY SAVES THE DAY: Danny Jansen brought home the game-tying and game-winning runs with a walk-off single in the 9th inning yesterday…Was the 3rd walk-off hit of his career (HR on June 29, 2019 vs. KC; 1B on Aug. 29, 2022 vs CHC)…Also singled and scored in the 2nd inning to finish 2-for-5…Has gone 5-for-19 (.263) with two extra-base hits and five RBI in his last five games.
GETTING IT DONE AT #1: George Springer singled in his 1st at-bat yesterday and then connected for his 5th home run in the 4th inning, a solo shot to center…The blast was his 183rd career home run while batting 1st, 5th most in MLB history…Over his last 11 contests, is 12-for-46 (.261) with two homers and five RBI.
THE BRAND-ON IS STRENGTHENING: Brandon Belt drove in Toronto’s 1st run of the afternoon with a single in the 2nd inning, before recording a bunt single in the 5th and another single in the 9th…Finished the day 3-for-5, his 3rd three-hit game of the year… Over his last eight games, has batted .458 (11-for-24) with four doubles, a homer, four RBI, and four walks (.552 OBP, .750 SLG).
MAY BE GOOD: Daulton Varsho walked and picked up his 8th double while going 1-for-4 during yesterday’s contest…Over his last 11 games, has gone 14-for-43 (.326) with four doubles, four homers, and 10 RBI (.348 OBP, .698 SLG)…His .972 OPS for the month of May ranks 6th among AL batters.
VLAD TIMING: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled twice and drove in a pair of runs to wrap up his day at 2-for-5…Has reached base in 19 straight games, the 3rd-longest active on-base streak in the AL…Has batted .293 (22-for-75) with nine doubles, four homers, 15 RBI, and seven walks over that stretch (.938 OPS). The 24-year old is now 47-for-149 with 10 doubles, seven homers, 24 RBI, and a 16BB/23K ratio for a .315 AVG (5th in the AL), a .915 OPS (7th), and a .392 OBP (8th)…His 47 hits are tied for 5th most in the AL while his 78 total bases rank T-9th…Has also recorded an MLB-leading 73 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this season (2nd: Ronald Acuña Jr. – 70).
ALEK AGAINST THE EMPIRE: Alek Manoah tossed 7.0 shutout innings when he faced the Yankess on April 22 in the Bronx…Has allowed one earned run or fewer in five of his seven career meetings vs. NYY for a 1.93 ERA.
AT DOME FOR DAYS: The Blue Jays are on a 10-day, 10-game homestand (3-0 so far)…Have gone 12-3 so far at Rogers Centre, their best record through 15 home contests in team history…The .800 win% at home is 2nd best in MLB (TB – .864)…Will now host the Yankees for four nights before taking on the Orioles (26-14) for three games over the weekend. Toronto batters rank 3rd in the AL in AVG (.265), while sitting 4th in home OBP (.345), 7th in home OPS (.750), and 8th in home SLG (.406)…The pitching staff ranks 2nd among AL teams with a 2.61 home ERA (TB – 2.52) and are 1st with a .189 opponents’ average (2nd: TB – .189) during home contests, while also sitting 2nd with a 1.05 WHIP (1st: TB – 1.00).
ABOUT A QUARTER TURN: The Blue Jays have won 24+ of the first 40 games of a season for the 7th time in team history (last: 26-14 in 2009)…Were 22-18 at this point last season and 23-17 in 2021.
HITTING IT: The Blue Jays have notched 357 hits so far this season, 5th most in the AL…Are also 4th in the AL in team batting average (.259), 4th in OBP (.333), 5th in OPS (.746), and 7th in SLG (.413). The Blue Jays are one of two AL teams who have scored in every game this season (also: LAA)…Have gone 58 straight games without being shut out, the 2nd-longest active streak in the Majors (LAA – 82G).
DIVISIONAL DETAILS: The Blue Jays have gone 4-6 against divisional opponents this season…Have still won 27 of their last 43 games vs. AL East foes, dating back to Aug. 17, 2022…Went 43-33 (.566%) in divisional play in 2022, the 2nd-best winning percentage within the division (NYY – .618) and the club’s best since registering a .581 win% in 2006 (43-31).
WALK THIS WAY: Blue Jays batters have drawn multiple walks in 27 straight games, the longest single-season streak in club history (23G from May 1-26, 1980), and their 2nd-longest overall (46 games from Sept. 5, 1993 to April 27, 1994)…Marks the longest multi-BB streak by any team this year (2nd: MIN – 25G)…Their 140 free passes for the season are tied for 3rd most in the AL.
VS. THE YANKEES: All-Time: 317-385
2023: 2-1 Home: 167-182
Home: 0-0 Rogers Centre: 129-128
The Blue Jays won two of the three games the last time they met the Yankees, in the Bronx last month… Went 3-6 vs. the Pinstripes in nine games here at Rogers Centre last season…Have gone 26-25 overall against the Yankees since the start of 2020. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 4-for-11 with a double, two home runs, and four RBI during the three-game series in New York…In 68 career games vs. NYY, is 76-for-260 (.292) with 15 doubles, two triples, 15 homers, and 45 RBI (.889 OPS). Bo Bichette hit .286 (22-for-77) in his 18 games against the Yankees last season…Owns a career .308 (68-for-221) average across 54 meetings, including 18 doubles, 10 home runs, and 33 RBI (.871 OPS). Danny Jansen recorded a hit in all three games in New York last month, including a pinch-hit homer on April 22, Toronto’s first pinch-hit longball since the 2019 season…Has gone 31-for-109 (.284) with six doubles, eight home runs, and 22 RBI in his 36 career games vs. New York (.952 OPS).
STARTING PITCHER – Alek Manoah, RHP #6
TODAY’S GAME:
Making his 9th start of the season and his 4th at Rogers Centre…Gave up 3 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks over 4.2 frames with a strikeout in his last outing, on 5/9 at PHI. His career 2.31 ERA in the month of May is the 2nd-lowest mark in Blue Jays history, min. 5 starts (1st: Shaun Marcum – 2.20). Since entering the league in 2021, has held opposing righthanded hitters to a .171 AVG, trailing only Cristian Javier (.161) for the best mark among qualified hurlers.
2023 HIGHLIGHTS:
Took the loss on 5/3 at BOS, giving up 5R/2ER over 5.0 innings with 8 hits, a walk, and 3 strikeouts on a season-high 103 pitches (63 strikes). Landed a no-decision on 4/28 vs. SEA, giving up 2 runs on 6 hits and 4 walks over 5.0 frames with a season-high 7 strikeouts. Threw 7.0 shutout frames on 4/22 at NYY, scattering just 2 hits and a walk with 5 strikeouts…Was his 2nd outing with 7.0 scoreless innings this season (also: 4/5 at KC). Took the loss on 4/16 vs. TB, tossing 4.2 innings and allowing a career-high 7 earned runs on 9 hits and 4 walks with 5 punchouts…Threw 101 pitches (61 strikes), eclipsing the century mark for the 1st time this year. Took a no-decision in the team’s Home Opener on 4/11 vs. DET, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits and 5 walks over 4.1 innings with 3 strikeouts…Became the 5th pitcher in team history to pitch the club’s Season Opener and then their Home Opener, joining Jim Clancy (1981), Jimmy Key (1989), Marcus Stroman (2016), and Hyun Jin Ryu (2020). Earned his 1st win of the year on 4/5 at KC, tossing 7.0 frames of one-hit, shutout ball with four walks and five strikeouts. Was the Opening Day starter for the Blue Jays on 3/30 at STL…Took a no-decision that day, giving up 5 runs on a career-high 9 hits and 2 walks over 3.1 innings with 3 strikeouts… At 25 years and 80 days old, became the 4th-youngest Opening Day starter in team history (Drew Hutchison – 24.227 in 2015; Todd Stottlemyre – 24.324 in 1990; Marcus Stroman 24.338 in 2016).
