NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:
AT A GLANCE: The Yankees continue their seven-game road trip tonight with the second game of a four-game set at Toronto (1-0 thus far)…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.
Have won six of their last eight games.
Are 9-4 in their last 13 games (since 5/2), tied with Colorado for the second-best record in the Majors in that span, trailing only Los Angeles-NL (10-2).
Have won or split three of their last four completed series (since 5/1) and nine of their 13 completed series this season (going 7-4-2).
Are 12 days into a 17-day stretch (5/5-21) without an off day (7-4 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-of20 games (5/5-25) against the AL East…are 4-4 so far.
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Yankees defeated the Blue Jays, 7-4, on Monday at Rogers Centre…RHP Jimmy Cordero (2.0IP) made his first career start as an opener, retiring all 6BF…RF Aaron Judge (2-for-2, 2R, 2HR, 3RBI, 3BB) reached base a career-high-tying five times and recorded his 30th career multi-HR game (third of the season), hitting solo home runs in the first and eighth inning…DH Willie Calhoun (1-for-4, 1R, 1HR, 2RBI, 1BB) hit a two-run HR in the first inning…C Kyle Higashioka (1-for-5, 1RBI) hit an RBI single in the fourth inning…1B Anthony Rizzo (1-for-5, 1 double, 1RBI) hit an RBI double in the sixth inning… 3B Oswaldo Cabrera (0-for-2, 1R, 3BB) recorded a career-hightying 3BB…RHP Jhony Brito (5.1IP, 6H, 4R/1ER, 0BB, 2K, 0HR) made his first career relief appearance and recorded his third career win…RHP Michael King (1.1IP) tossed 1.1 scoreless innings to earn his third save of the season…Yankees batters recorded 10BB, their second-most in a game this season (11BB on 4/20 vs. Los Angeles-AL).
CALENDAR DAYS: The Yankees have hit 29HR in 14 games during the month of May, the most home runs in the Majors in that span…also lead the Majors in May in SLG (.496), are tied for second in runs scored (83), rank third in OPS (.833) and runs scored per game (5.93), fifth in extra-base hits (49) and rank sixth in OBP (.337).
Their 5.75 PA/K ratio in May is the best in the Majors.
BRONX BOMBERS: The Yankees have hit 63HR this season, the second-most home runs in the AL and tied for the fourth-most in the Majors.
Have hit at least 3HR in four straight games for just the sixth time in franchise history and for the first time since 8/5-8/19 (also 4G)…is tied for their second-longest such streak in franchise history, trailing only a five game streak from 5/19-23/18.
Have also hit at least 3HR in five of their last six games and six of their last eight games…prior to this eight-game stretch, had hit 3HR in just four of their first 35 games of the season.
Have hit multiple HR in eight of their last nine games (since 5/7) and 10 of their last 13 games (since 5/2).
Have hit 12HR in their last four games and 23HR in their last nine games.
Have recorded at least eight hits in 12 of their last 13G.
Have scored at least 6R in eight of their last nine games (since 5/7), scoring 66R and averaging 7.33 runs per game in that span.
GLEYBER DAY: INF Gleyber Torres owns a season-high 11-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 21 of his last 24 games (since 4/20) and 24 of his last 28G (since 4/15).
Has 23BB in 42 games this season…did not record his 23rd walk in 2022 until his 80th game on 7/15/22 vs. Boston…his 7.52 PA/BB (173PA/23BB) rate this year is the second-best of his career (7.27 in a 60-game shortened season in 2020)…his 7.86 PA/K (173PA/22K) rate this season is the best of his career.
Has 4BB in his last 4G and 5BB in his last 6G.
WHERE’S OSWALDO?: INF/OF Oswaldo Cabrera tied his career high with 3BB on Monday (also 3BB on 9/16/22 at Milwaukee)… is batting .333/.452/.625 (8-for-24) with 5R, 1 double, 2HR, 8RBI, 5BB, 1HP, 1SF and 1SB over his last eight games (since 5/7).
KING OF THE HILL: RHP Michael King tossed 1.1 scoreless innings on Monday to record his third save of the season… has recorded at least four outs in 12-of-13 appearances this season…has not allowed a run in 10 of his last 12 games, posting a 1.71 ERA (21.0IP, 4ER) and 21K in that span.
ALL RISE: OF Aaron Judge reached base a career-high-tying five times and recorded his 30th career multi-HR game (third of the season) on Monday at Toronto, hitting solo home runs in the first and eighth inning…has two multi-HR games in his last three games (also 2HR on Saturday vs. Tampa Bay).
His 2HR on Monday marked his 30th career multi-HR game, surpassing Alex Rodriguez (29) for the fifth-most multi-HR games in franchise history…trails only Babe Ruth (68), Mickey Mantle (46), Lou Gehrig (43) and Joe DiMaggio (35).
Five of his 10 home runs this season have given the Yankees the lead…since the start of 2019, 71 of his 147HR have tied the game (14) or given the Yankees the lead (57).
The Yankees have gone 150-50 in his career when he homers…since 2020, the Yankees are 78-21 in those games.
Has 4HR in his last three games.
His 230 career HR are the most by any Major League player through his first 762 career games (previous: Ryan Howard227HR).
Has 8RBI in his last three games…has recorded 10RBI in seven games since returning from the I.L.
Is hitting .364/.500/.955 (8-for-22) with 7R, 1 double, 4HR, 8RBI and 6BB/1IBB in his last six games (since 5/10).
His 30 career HR vs. the Blue Jays are his second-most against any club (37HR vs. Baltimore).
Is a career .333/.471/.741 (9-for-27) hitter with 2 doubles, 3HR, 6BB and 1HP vs. Toronto’s RHP Kevin Gausman.
Ranks third in the AL in SLG (.581), tied for fourth in HR (10) and fifth in OPS (.957).
NOBODY BEATS THE RIZZ: INF Anthony Rizzo was named the AL “Player of the Week” for 5/8-14 after batting .444/.500/.815 (12-for-27) with 10R, 1 double, 3HR, 7RBI and 3BB in seven games…led the Majors in hits and runs scored and ranked second in the AL in BA and OPS (1.315), tied for second in OBP, fourth in SLG and tied for fourth in RBI and XBH (4)…marked his fourth career weekly honor and first since 8/20-26/18…was the second Yankee to be named the AL “Player of the Week” this year, joining Gerrit Cole (4/10-16).
Hit an RBI double in the sixth inning on Monday…has 6RBI in his last four games.
Is tied for second in the AL this season in hits (49).
Owns a season-high 14-game on-base streak (since 5/1), batting .357/.429/.607 (20-for-56) with 14R, 2 doubles, 4HR, 10RBI 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 eight games since 5/8, batting .406/.457/.750 (13-for-32) with 10R, 2 doubles, 3HR, 8RBI and 3BB in that span…also has multiple hits in seven of his last 13G.
Has reached base via H/BB/HP in 20-of-41 plate appearances over his last nine games (14H, 6BB, .488 OBP).
Has reached base in 18 of his last 19 games and 37 of his 42 games this season.
Is batting .319/.391/.541 (43-for-135) with 24R, 6 doubles, 8HR, 19RBI, 12BB and 4HP in his last 35G (since 4/9).
Has hit safely in 12 of his last 13G and 16 of his last 19G.
Has reached base multiple times in three of his last four games, seven of his last nine games and nine of his last 13 games.
Five of his last seven hits have gone for extra bases (2 doubles, 3HR).
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-for248) 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).
ON A ROLL: OF Willie Calhoun hit a two-run HR in first inning on Monday…has 3HR in his last nine games.
DARTH BADER: OF Harrison Bader has reached base in 11- of-12 games this season with an AB, 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 with an AB (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 45PA this season
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP DOMINGO GERMÁN (2-3, 4.00 ERA)
RHP Domingo Germán will make his ninth start of the season tonight at Toronto…the 30-year-old will start on regular four days’ rest…took the loss in his last start on Thursday vs. Tampa Bay despite allowing just 2R/1ER over 5.2IP (3H, 3BB, 3K)…has allowed 2R-or-fewer in each of his last three starts…has allowed 1ER-or-fewer in two of his last three starts and in four of his last seven starts…ranks fifth in the Majors in opponents’ BA (.174, third in AL), sixth in H/9 (5.60, fourth in AL), eighth in opponents’ OBP (.251, fourth in AL) and ninth in WHIP (0.96, fifth in AL) and BR/9 (9.00, fourth in AL)…in 2022, went 2-5 with a 3.61 ERA (72.1IP, 65H, 31R/29ER, 19BB, 58K, 11HR) in 15 games (14 starts) with the Yankees…allowed 3R-or-fewer in a career-high 12 consecutive starts from 7/27-9/30/22…missed the first 93 games of the season with right shoulder impingement syndrome…in six seasons with the Yankees, is 28-24 with a 4.34 ERA (458.2IP, 221ER) and 476K in 100 career games (78 starts)…was signed by the Yankees as a minor league free agent on 12/11/15…was originally acquired by the Yankees from the Miami Marlins along with RHP Nathan Eovaldi and INF Garrett Jones in exchange for RHP David Phelps and INF Martín Prado on 12/19/14.
LAST TIME OUT: Took the loss in his last start on Thursday vs. Tampa Bay despite allowing just 2R/1ER over 5.2IP (3H, 3BB, 3K)…marked his third straight start allowing 2R-or-fewer, tying the third-longest such streak of his career…allowed an unearned run in the fifth inning on a go-ahead RBI double by Yandy Díaz… allowed his only earned run in the sixth inning after he exited the game with two outs and a runner on base (Taylor Walls), who scored later in the inning.
VS. TORONTO: Is 2-5 with a 4.11 ERA (35.0IP, 16ER) in eight career games (six starts) vs. Toronto…last faced the Blue Jays earlier this season on 4/21 at Yankee Stadium and took the loss after allowing 4ER over 6.0IP (5H, 2BB, 6K, 2HR).
Tonight will mark his first start in Toronto since 8/8/19…in two career starts at Rogers Centre, is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA (11.0IP, 5R/4ER) and 8K (also made a start at Rogers Centre on 7/8/18).
Has allowed 3ER-or-fewer in five of his six career starts vs. the Blue Jays, including 2ER-or-fewer in three of those starts…has allowed 2BB-or-fewer in each of those six starts, including 1BB-or-fewer in three starts…has allowed 2HR in each of his last four starts vs. Toronto (since 8/8/19).
ON THE ROAD:
Will make his fourth road start of the season…is 1-0 with a 5.79 ERA (14.0IP, 9ER) in three road starts this season…in 2022, went 0-4 with a 3.46 ERA (39.0IP, 37H, 16R/15ER, 9BB, 30K, 6HR) in eight road appearances (seven starts).
In 51 career games (40 starts) on the road, is 15-13 with a 4.90 ERA (233.1IP, 127ER) and 228K.
Has allowed 3R-or-fewer in seven of his last nine road starts (since 7/27/22), including 2R-or-fewer in six of those starts.
Is 7-4 with a 3.93 ERA (91.2IP, 40ER) and 87K in 19 career games (17 starts) on the road vs. AL East opponents…has allowed 3R-or-fewer in 12-of-17 starts, including 2R-or-fewer in eight of those starts.
Allowed 2R-or-fewer in a career-high four consecutive road starts from 7/27-8/27/22…allowed 1R-or-fewer in three consecutive road starts from 8/6-8/27/22, tied for the longest such streak of his career (also recorded three such starts from 4/28-5/20/21).
2023: Will make his ninth start of the season…is 2-3 with a 4.00 ERA (45.0IP, 20ER) and 47K in eight starts this season…ranks fifth in the Majors in opponents’ BA (.174, third in AL), sixth in H/9 (5.60, fourth in AL), eighth in opponents’ OBP (.251, fourth in AL) and ninth in WHIP (0.96, fifth in AL) and BR/9 (9.00, fourth in AL).
Has allowed 2R-or-fewer in each of his last three starts.
Has allowed 1ER-or-fewer in two of his last three starts and in four of his last seven starts…has allowed 2ER-or-fewer in five of his last seven starts.
His .144 opponents’ BA against left-handed hitters ranks 10th among all AL pitchers.
Has recorded at least 8K with 0BB in two starts.
His 47K are the second-most strikeouts he’s recorded through his first eight starts of a season in his career, trailing only his 48K through his first eight starts in 2019.
Did not record a decision on 5/1 vs. Cleveland despite allowing just 1ER over a career-high 8.1 innings (2H, 1BB, 6K)…allowed just three baserunners…after allowing a one-out single to Amed Rosario in the first inning, did not allow a hit to his next 25BF (1BB) before allowing the single to Steven Kwan in the ninth… became just the fifth Yankees pitcher (sixth time) in the last 22 years (since 2002) to toss at least 8.1IP and allow three-or-fewer baserunners…joined Gerrit Cole (2H and 1BB in 9.0IP on 4/16/23 vs. Minnesota), Corey Kluber (1BB in 9.0IP on 5/19/21 at Texas), Masahiro Tanaka (twice: 2H and 1BB in 9.0IP on 6/17/19 vs. Tampa Bay and 3H in 9.0IP on 4/27/17 at Boston) and Chien-Ming Wang (2H in 9.0IP on 4/11/08 at Boston).
Allowed 1ER-or-fewer in back-to-back starts on 4/10 at Cleveland and 4/15 vs. Minnesota, tying the longest such streak of his career…marked the sixth time in his career he’s recorded consecutive such starts.
Earned his first win of the season on 4/15 vs. Minnesota after recording a career-high 11K (6.1IP, 3H, 1ER, 0BB)…marked his third career double-digit strikeout game (also 10K on 7/25/21 at Boston and 6/14/18 vs. Tampa Bay)…marked the first time in his career he’s recorded at least 10K without surrendering a walk… marked his fifth career start with at least 8K and 0BB allowed, including his second this season (8K and 0BB on 4/4 vs. Philadelphia)…is the first Yankee to record at least 10K and 0BB in a game this season and the first since Gerrit Cole did so on 7/17/22 vs. Boston (12K and 0BB)…tossed 5.1 perfect innings before allowing a one-out single to Christian Vázquez in the sixth inning…his 11K matched the most by a Yankees pitcher this season (also Gerrit Cole on Opening Day vs. San Francisco).
TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays issued a season-high 10 walks as they dropped the first night of a four-game series vs. the Yankees by a score of 7-4 last night…Are now 9-5 in series openers. Toronto had its three-game winning streak snapped… Has still won six of its last nine games and 15 of its last 24.
GUERRERO GETTING ON: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled in a run in the 8th as he went 1-for-4 last night…Has now reached base in 20 straight games, the 2nd-longest active on-base streak in the AL (Yordan Alvarez – 39G)…Has batted .291 (23-for-79) with 10 doubles, four homers, 16 RBI, and seven walks over that stretch (.929 OPS). The 24-year old is now 48-for-153 for the season with 11 doubles, seven homers, 25 RBI, and a 16BB/24K ratio for a .314 AVG (6th in the AL), a .389 OBP (8th), and a .911 OPS (9th)…His 48 hits are tied for 5th most in the AL while his 80 total bases rank T-9th…Has also recorded an MLB-leading 74 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this season.
BICHETTE HAPPENS: Bo Bichette singled in the 4th and drove in a run with another single in the 8th last night…Finished 2-for-4 for his 16th multi-hit game of the year, tied for 1st in the AL with Marcus Semien. The shortstop has gone 56-for-173 (.324) with nine doubles, eight homers, and 27 RBI while playing in all 41 games this season…Leads the Majors with 56 hits (2nd: Ronald Acuña Jr. – 55)…Now leads the AL with his .324 batting average (2nd: Yandy Díaz – .321) and with 89 total bases (2nd: Rafael Devers/ Shohei Ohtani – 86).
OH KK, BLUE JAY: Kevin Kiermaier laced a double to right field in the 6th and legged out an infield single in the 8th as part of a 2-for-3 night…Now has nine two-baggers, eclipsing his total from 2022 (8) in 100 fewer plate appearances… Is batting .321 (35-for-109) for the year with 13 extrabase hits and 12 RBI (.879 OPS)…His 31 hits while batting 9th are the most in the Majors (2nd: Michael A. Taylor – 23).
DOUBLING UP: Matt Chapman led off the bottom of the 8th with a double before coming around to score Toronto’s 1st run last night…Leads the Majors with 18 doubles (2nd: Paul Goldschmidt – 16)…Among AL batters, is currently 1st in extra-base hits (23), 4th in AVG (.315), T-4th in OBP (.400), 6th in OPS (.937), T-8th in hits (47), T-9th in total bases (75), and 10th in SLG (.537). The third baseman also continues to lead all MLB hitters in barrel rate (15.9%) and hard-hit percentage (65.7) this season, while 4th in average exit velocity (95.5 MPH) and 5th in hard-hit balls (69).
FREE PASS FACTS: Blue Jays batters did not draw a walk last night…Had 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 (46G from Sept. 5, 1993 to April 27, 1994).
AT DOME FOR DAYS: The Blue Jays are on a 10-day, 10-game homestand (3-1 so far)…Have gone 12-4 so far at Rogers Centre, tied for their best record through 16 home contests in team history (3rd time)…The .750 win% at home is 2nd best in MLB (TB – .864)…Are hosting the Yankees for four nights before taking on the Orioles (26-15) for three games over the weekend. Toronto batters rank 3rd in the AL in home AVG (.263),
while sitting 4th in home OBP (.338), 7th in home OPS (.739), and 9th in home SLG (.400)…The pitching staff ranks 2nd among AL teams with a 2.88 home ERA (TB – 2.52), 2nd in home opponents’ average (.192), and 2nd in home WHIP (1.11).
ONE NOTCH AT A TIME: Brandon Belt bunted for a single for the 2nd day in a row as he went 1-for-4 last night…Over his last nine games, has batted .429 (12-for-28) with four doubles, a homer, four RBI, and four walks (.515 OBP, .679 SLG).
ALL GAUS, NO BRAKES: Kevin Gausman gets the ball tonight, coming off 6.0 shutout innings last Wednesday in Philadelphia… Allowed three hits and struck out nine batters without issuing a walk…Over his last six outings, has struck out 53 batters with just four walks. The 32-year old has racked up 67 strikeouts, trailing only Shohei Ohtani (71) for the most among AL hurlers (5th in MLB)…The 67 K’s are the most in a pitcher’s first eight starts of a season in team history (2nd: Ricky Romero – 59 in 2010).
HITTING IT: The Blue Jays have notched 365 hits so far this season, 5th most in the AL…Are also 5th in the AL in team batting average (.258), 5th in OBP (.331), 6th in OPS (.742), and 7th in SLG (.416). The Blue Jays are one of two AL teams who have scored in every game this season (also: LAA)…Have gone 59 straight games without being shut out, the 2nd-longest active streak in the Majors (LAA – 83G).
DIVISIONAL DETAILS: The Blue Jays have gone 4-7 against divisional opponents this season…Have still won 27 of their last 44 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)
VS. THE YANKEES: All-Time: 317-386
2023: 2-2 Home: 167-183
Home: 0-1 Rogers Centre: 129-129
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 26-26 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 69 career games vs. NYY, is 77-for-264 (.292) with 16 doubles, two triples, 15 homers, and 46 RBI (.887 OPS). Bo Bichette batted .286 (22-for-77) in his 18 games against the Yankees last season…Owns a career .311 (70-for-225) average across 55 meetings, including 18 doubles, 10 home runs, and 34 RBI (.873 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 – Kevin Gausman, RHP #34
TODAY’S GAME:
Making his 9th start of the season and his 3rd at Rogers Centre…Tossed 6.0 shutout innings his last time out on 5/10 at PHI, giving up 3 hits with no walks and 9 strikeouts…Was his 6th quality start of the year, and his 5th outing with no earned runs. His 67 strikeouts are the most ever by a Blue Jay in their first eight outings of a season (2nd: Ricky Romero – 59K in 2010), and are 2nd most in the AL in 2023 (1st: Shohei Ohtani – 71K). Owns a 2.75 FIP since the start of the 2020 season, the 2nd-best mark among qualified hurlers (Corbin Burnes – 2.61).
2023 HIGHLIGHTS:
Took the loss on 5/4 at BOS, giving up a career-high-tying 8 earned runs on 10 hits and a walk over 3.1 innings with 4 strikeouts. Tossed 7.0 shutout innings on 4/29 vs. SEA, giving up 5 hits with a walk and a career-high 13 strikeouts…Threw a season-high 108 pitches (74 strikes) while inducing a career-high 28 swing-and-misses…Got 20 whiffs on his splitter alone, the most on a single pitch in the Majors this season, and the most on a splitter in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008). Earned his 2nd win of the year on 4/23 at NYY, hurling 7.0 shutout frames
with 3 hits, no walks, and a season-high-tying 11 strikeouts. Gave up a career-high-tying 8 runs (7ER) over 4.2 innings on 4/17 at HOU (7H, 2BB, 5K). Took a no-decision on 4/12 vs. DET, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits over a season-high 8.0 innings with no walks and 11 strikeouts, his most as a Blue Jay…Surrendered a solo home run to Nick Maton with one out in the 4th inning, ending his streak of 15.1 innings without allowing an earned run, the longest stretch to begin a season in franchise history (2nd: Matt Shoemaker – 14.0 IP in 2019). Picked up his 1st win of the year on 4/6 at KC, throwing 6.0 shutout frames with 4 hits, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts…Didn’t allowed an earned run for a 2nd straight outing to begin the season. Took the loss in his season debut on 4/1 at STL, giving up 3 runs (all unearned) on 8 hits and a walk over 6.0 innings with 7 strikeouts.
