TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays tied yesterday’s game against the Yankees in the 9th inning but were unable to hang on as they were edged, 3-2…Were walked off for the 1st time this season…Lost a one-run contest for the 1st time in 2023 (now 4-1). Toronto has still won 11 of its last 17 contests…Can improve to 5-2-0 in series play with a win today…Has gone 1-2 in rubber games so far this season.
IN A PINCH: Danny Jansen tied yesterday’s game, 2-2, in the 9th inning as he came in to pinch-hit for Brandon Belt and promptly homered to left field…The two-run blast was his 1st home run of the season…Has gone 4-for-11 (.364) with a homer, three RBI, and three walks in his last five games (1-for-25 in first eight games).
DID YOU KNOW?: Danny Jansen’s home run was the first pinch-hit homer by a Blue Jay since Rowdy Tellez on Sept. 2, 2019 at ATL…The span of 1,327 days between pinch-hit homers was the longest in team history (751 days from May 21, 2010-June 11, 2012) and was the 5th-longest stretch by any team over the last 40 seasons.
ALEK AT HIS BEST IN THE BRONX: Alek Manoah threw 7.0 shutout frames yesterday, limiting the Yankees to two hits and a walk while recording five strikeouts on 85 pitches (57 strikes)… Was his 2nd game this season with 7.0 innings and no runs allowed, also doing so on April 5 at KC…Became the first Blue Jays starter to throw 7+ shutout frames and not earn a decision since Jacob Waguespack on Aug. 22, 2019 at LAD (7.0 IP). In five career starts at Yankee Stadium, the 25-yearold righty now holds a 1.17 ERA (4 ER/30.2 IP), a .133 AVG, and a 0.85 WHIP (14H, 12BB, 31K)…Among all pitchers to make at least five starts at the venue, Manoah’s career 1.17 ERA ranks 1st (2nd: Yusei Kikuchi – 1.91).
BO KNOWS BASE HITS: Bo Bichette picked up a double to lead off the 8th inning as part of a 1-for-4 afternoon…Has now gone 31-for-90 (.344) with five doubles, four homers, and 12 RBI while playing in all 21 games this season…The 31 hits are the most in the AL and 5th most in MLB… Among AL batters, currently ranks 3rd in total bases (48), 4th in AVG, and 15th in both SLG (.533) and OPS (.912).
VLAD HABITS: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled and walked to finish 1-for-3 yesterday…Now owns a .602 slugging percentage at the current Yankee Stadium, trailing only Aaron Judge’s .611 mark for 2nd highest all-time at the venue (min. 100 AB). The 24-year-old is now 28-for-81 with two doubles, four homers, 11 RBI, and a 10BB/10K ratio for a .346 AVG (3rd in the AL), a .432 OBP (3rd), and a .950 OPS (9th)…His 28 hits are tied for 2nd most in the AL while his 42 total bases are tied for 10th…Has recorded 41 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this year, the most in the
Majors (2nd: Randy Arozarena – 39).
HITTING THE ROAD: The Blue Jays have reached the finale of their six-game road trip (2-3 so far), holding an 8-7 record while away from Rogers Centre this season…Their 15 road games played are the most in the AL and 2nd most in MLB (NYM – 16G)…Will return home to begin a six-game homestand tomorrow, welcoming the White Sox (7-14) and Mariners (10-11) for three games apiece. Toronto’s .533 road win% currently ranks 8th in the AL…Blue Jays hitters lead the AL in road hits (138) while ranking 3rd in road AVG (.260), 5th in OBP (.331), 6th in SLG (.408), and 6th in OPS (.738)…The pitching staff ranks 13th in the AL in road ERA (5.09), 12th in opponents’ batting average (.259), and 11th in WHIP (1.35).
GET ON WHIT IT: Whit Merrifield went 1-for-4 on a single yesterday… Extended his hitting streak to eight games, going 12- for-31 (.387) with three doubles and five RBI over that stretch (.859 OPS)…Has reached base safely in all 15 of his games played this season, batting .309 (17-for55) with four doubles, seven RBI, and three walks… His 15 game on-base stretch is the 5th-longest active streak in the AL.
HITTING IT: The Blue Jays have notched 188 hits so far this season, 2nd most in the AL (1st: TB – 207)…Are also 3rd in the AL in team batting average (.259), 4th in OBP (.332), 5th in OPS (.734), and 6th in SLG (.403).
DIVISIONAL DETAILS: The Blue Jays are playing just their 2nd divisional series (also: 2-1 vs. TB)…Have won 26 of their last 38 games vs. AL East foes, dating back to last year… 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).
NO IN BETWEEN: Toronto pitchers have now either allowed four-or-fewer runs or eight-or-more runs in all 21 games this season…According to Stats Perform, this is now the 4th-longest such streak in the Wild Card era (since 1995), trailing Cleveland in 2019 (39G), the 2005 Marlins (23G), and the 2012 Nationals (22G).
VS. THE YANKEES: All-Time: 316-385
2023: 1-1 Road: 149-203
Road: 1-1 Yankee Stadium: 49-79
The Blue Jays went 8-11 in their 19 meetings with the Yankees last season but were an even 5-5 while in the Bronx…Have won six of the last 10 matchups overall… Now hold an even record of 25-25 vs. NYY since the start of the 2020 season. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 19-for-73 (.260) with four doubles, five homers, and 13 RBI in the 19 games vs. New York last year…Is a lifetime .293 (75-for-256) hitter against the Pinstripes, with 15 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs, and 43 RBI in 67 meetings (.884 OPS)…Has gone 38-for-128 (.297) with six doubles, 11 homers, and 19 RBI in his 33 games at Yankee Stadium (.959 OPS). Bo Bichette played in 18 of the games vs. NYY last year, going 22-for-77 (.286) with seven doubles and three RBI…Now holds a career average of .313 (68- for-217) across 53 games vs. the Yankees, including 18 doubles, 10 home runs, and 33 RBI (.886 OPS). Kevin Kiermaier leads all current Blue Jays with 108 career games vs. New York…Has hit .235 (87-for371) with 11 doubles, six triples, 13 homers, and 28 RBI in those contests.
STARTING PITCHER – Kevin Gausman, RHP #34
TODAY’S GAME:
Making his 5th start of the season and his 4th on the road…Gave up a career-high-tying 8 runs (7ER) over 4.2 innings in his last start on 4/17 at HOU (7H, 2BB, 5K).
His 30 strikeouts this season are tied for 9th most among AL hurlers. Owns a 2.84 FIP since the start of the 2020 season, the 3rd-best mark among qualified hurlers (Corbin Burnes – 2.56, Zack Wheeler – 2.84).
2023 HIGHLIGHTS:
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.
NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:
AT A GLANCE: The Yankees finish their season-high 10- game homestand today with the final game of a three-game series vs. Toronto (1-1 thus far)…are 5-4 on the homestand after splitting their four-game set with Minnesota, winning two-of-three vs. Los Angeles-AL and splitting their first two games of their three-game series vs. Toronto…following this homestand, will embark on a seven-game road trip to Minnesota (3G from Mon.-Wed.) and Texas (4/27-30).
Improved to 7-1 following a loss this season.
Have won five of their last seven games…are 7-4 in their last 11 games (since 4/11) and 9-5 in their last 14 games (since 4/8).
Are in a 16-day stretch without an off day (4/18-5/3)…are 3-2 so far over that span.
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Yankees recorded their second “walk-off” win of the year with a 3-2 victory over the Blue Jays on Saturday at Yankee Stadium…RHP Gerrit Cole (5.2IP, 4H, 2BB, 4K, 1HP) did not record a decision despite tossing 5.2 scoreless innings…SS Anthony Volpe (1-for-4, 1R, 1HR, 2RBI) broke a 0-0 tie with a two-run HR in the eighth inning… PH DJ LeMahieu (1-for-1, 1RBI) hit a pinch-hit “walk-off” single, his fourth career “walk-off” hit…3B Oswald Peraza (1-for-2, 1R, 1BB, 1SB) reached base twice and stole his first base of the season…RHP Ron Marinaccio (1.0IP, 1BB) tossed a scoreless inning of relief…LHP Wandy Peralta (0.2IP, 2H, 2ER, 1BB, 1HR) surrendered a game-tying two-run HR in the ninth inning…RHP Jimmy Cordero (0.2IP) entered the game in the ninth inning with one on and one out and induced a double play…earned his first win as a Yankee and his first win since 9/13/20 vs. Detroit with Chicago-AL.
SERIES BUSINESS: With a win today, it would mark just the ninth time in franchise history and just the second time in the last 67 years (since 1957) that the Yankees have won or split each of their first seven series of a season (also first nine in 2003)…also won or split their first 17 series in 1950, first 13 in 1910, first 11 in 1955, first nine in 1934, 1946 and 2003 and their first eight in 1949 and 1956 (credit: Elias). Are 11-0 in games this season when facing a series loss.
The Yankees are the only Major League team to not lose a series this season.
PITCH PERFECT: Yankees pitchers have allowed just 67R in 21 games this season (3.19 R/G), marking their fourth-fewest runs allowed through their first 21 games in a season in the last 59 years since 1965 (61R in 2022, 64R in 1981 and 65R in 2003)…have allowed 3R-or-fewer in 14-of-21 games this season and 2R-or-fewer in 10 of those games.
Their 3.11 ERA is the second-lowest in the AL and tied for the second-lowest in the Majors.
Also rank third in the Majors in opponents’ BA (.214), WHIP (1.12) and opponents’ SLG (.349), fourth in K/9.0IP (9.72) and opponents’ OPS (.642), tied for fourth in strikeouts (203), fifth in opponents’ OBP (.293) and sixth in K/BB (3.12).
NOBODY BEATS THE RIZZ: INF Anthony Rizzo has reached base in 18 of his first 20 games this season, batting .319/.419/.542 (23-for-72) with 10R, 4 doubles, 4HR, 10RBI, 9BB, 4HP and 1SF.
Is tied for fourth in the AL in HP (4), ranks fifth in OBP (.419), seventh in OPS (.960) and eighth in BA (.319).
Needs one hit to reach 1,500 career hits…needs 1RBI for 900 career RBI.
Is hitting .316/.403/.579 (18-for-57) with 3 doubles, 4HR, 6BB and 3HP vs. right-handed pitchers this season.
FAST AND FURIOUS: Yankees baserunners rank third in the AL and tied for fourth in the Majors with 22SB…their 22SB mark their most through their first 21 games of a season in their last 25 years since 1999 and match their second-most through their first 21 games of a season in their last 34 years (since 1990), trailing only their 39SB in 1998.
Have 10SB in their last eight games.
INF/OF Oswaldo Cabrera has 4SB in 18 games this season after recording just 3SB in 44 games in 2022…has 3SB in his last seven games.
GOT YOUR NUMBER: OF Aaron Judge has hit .375/.516/.833 (9-for-24) with 2 doubles, 3HR and 6BB in his career off RHP Kevin Gausman.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: INF Anthony Volpe broke a 0-0 tie on Saturday with a two-run HR in the eighth inning… marked his second home run of the year.
Is just the fourth Yankee (fifth time) since 2010 to hit a HR in the eighth inning-or-later to break a 0-0 tie… joined Aaron Judge (“walk-off” HR in the ninth inning on 7/28/22 vs. Kansas City and a HR in the 13th inning on 6/6/18 at Toronto), Gary Sánchez (HR in the ninth inning on 5/1/18 at Houston) and Chris Young (HR in the 11th inning in Game 1 on 9/12/14 at Baltimore).
Has reached base safely in each of his last 10 games, reaching base in 17-of-42 plate appearances (9H, 8BB) over that stretch (.405 OBP).
Is 8-for-8 in stolen base attempts…joins Cedric Mullins (9-for-9) as the only two players in the Majors to be 8-for8-or-better in stolen base attempts.
His 8SB are tied for the fourth-most in the Majors.
LEMACHINE: INF DJ LeMahieu hit a pinch-hit “walk-off” single on Saturday vs. Toronto…marked his fourth career “walk-off” hit (also a “walk-off” HR on 8/31/19 vs. Oakland, a “walk-off” single on 5/7/19 vs. Seattle and a “walk-off” HR on 9/12/18 vs. Arizona with Colorado)…was the first Yankee to record a “walk-off” hit as a pinch hitter since Jose Trevino’s pinch-hit “walk-off” single on 6/10/22 vs. Chicago-NL.
As a Yankee, has hit .442/.460/.651 (19-for-43) with 6 doubles, 1HR, 49RBI and 4BB with the bases loaded.
Is hitting .375/.444/.500 (6-for-16) with 2 doubles, 6RBI and 2BB with RISP this season.
Is a career .336 (85-for-253) batter with 42R, 18 doubles, 1 triple, 10HR, 31RBI and 21BB in 65 games vs. the Blue Jays…is his second-highest BA against any opponent in his career (min. 10G)…in 62 games vs. Toronto as a Yankee, has hit .340 (83-for-244) with 42R, 17 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).
COLE TRAIN: RHP Gerrit Cole tossed 5.2 scoreless innings on Saturday…extended his scoreless streak to 20.2 innings, the second-longest scoreless streak of his career…trails only a 21.2 scoreless inning streak from 8/16-9/1/21.
According to Elias, his 0.79 ERA (34.0IP, 3ER) is the third-lowest ERA in franchise history by a Yankees starter through his first five games of a season (since ER became an official stat in 1913), trailing only Ed Lopat’s 0.60 ERA in 1951 and Spud Chandler’s 0.60 ERA in 1946…Ray Keating posted a 0.44 ERA through his first five starts in 1913 but made relief appearances between those starts.
Three of his five starts this season have been scoreless.
Has not allowed a home run this season while tossing a Major League-leading 34.0 innings.
Has allowed 4H-or-fewer in four of his five starts…has held opponents to a .155 BA (17-for-110).
Has recorded 16 scoreless starts since 2021, tied with Max Scherzer, Zack Wheeler and Corbin Burnes for the most in the Majors in that span.
The Yankees are 5-0 in his starts this season.
BRONX BOMBERS: Yankees batters have homered in 18 of their first 21 games of a season for just the sixth time in franchise history (19G in 2001 and 18G in 2003, 2011, 2012 and 2020).
Their 29HR are tied with Atlanta (29HR in 21G) for the fourth-most in the Majors, trailing only Tampa Bay (46HR in 21G), Los Angeles-NL (40HR in 22G) and San Francisco (32HR in 20G).
ON A ROLL: INF Oswald Peraza has reached base multiple times in three of his four starts this season…has reached base in 7-of-16 plate appearances this season (3H, 3BB, 1HP, .438 OBP).
PEN PAL: RHP Ron Marinaccio owns a 0.93 ERA (9.2IP, 1ER) and 14K in eight appearances this season…has allowed just 2H to 37BF this year, holding opponents to a .067 BA (2-for30) this season.
WHAT A RELIEF: Yankees relievers have posted a 2.32 ERA (81.1IP, 21ER) this season, the lowest in the AL and the second-lowest by a Major League bullpen this season (Milwaukee – 2.19).
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP CLARKE SCHMIDT (0-1, 8.79 ERA)
RHP Clarke Schmidt will make his fifth start of the season in today’s series finale vs. Toronto…the 27-year-old will make the start on regular
four days’ rest…made his fourth start of the season on Tuesday vs. Los Angeles-AL, recording the loss (3.2IP, 6H, 4ER, 0BB, 5K, 1HR, 1HP)…made
his second career Opening Day roster in 2023 (also 2022)…went 1-2 with a 5.03 ERA (19.2IP, 16H, 11ER, 4BB, 25K, 2HR, 1HP) in six spring games
(five starts)…in 2022, went 5-5 with two saves and a 3.12 ERA (57.2IP, 46H, 23R/20ER, 23BB, 56K, 5HR) in 29 appearances (three starts) over
four stints with the Yankees…in three starts, went 0-2 with a 4.63 ERA (11.2IP, 13H, 6ER, 2BB, 14K, 0HR)…as a reliever, went 5-3 with two saves and a 2.74 ERA (46.0IP, 33H, 17R/14ER, 21BB, 42K, 5HR) in 26 games…tossed at least 2.0 innings in 13 of his relief appearances and at least 3.0 innings in five of those relief appearances…was selected by the Yankees in the first round (16th overall) of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of South Carolina.
LAST TIME OUT: Made his fourth start of the season on Tuesday vs. Los Angeles-AL, recording the loss after allowing 4ER over 3.2IP (6H, 0BB,
5K, 1HR, 1HP)…surrendered a two-run HR to Shohei Ohtani in the first inning…also allowed an RBI single to Anthony Rendon and an RBI double to Hunter Renfroe in the fourth inning…failed to make it through 4.0 innings for the third time this season (also 3.1IP on 4/1 vs. San Francisco and 3.1IP on 4/7 at Baltimore).
VS. TORONTO: Has made three career appearance vs. the Blue Jays (all in relief), going 0-1 despite allowing just 1R/0ER in 2.2IP (2H, 3BB, 4K, 0HR).
Made two relief appearances vs. Toronto in 2022 (both at Rogers Centre)…recorded the loss on 9/26 at Toronto after allowing the automatic runner to score in the 10th inning (0.2IP, 1H, 1R/0ER, 1K)…tossed 1.0 scoreless inning on 9/28 at Toronto (1H, 1BB, 1K).
Has made 19 career appearances (three starts) vs. AL East opponents, going 2-4 with a 3.78 ERA (33.1IP, 14ER) and 29K.
HOME SWEET HOME: Has made 17 appearances (four starts) in his career at Yankee Stadium (two in 2023, 13 in 2022, one in 2021, one in 2020)…has gone 2-3 with one save and a 4.46 ERA (38.1IP, 35H, 21R/19ER, 17BB, 40K, 6HR) in those games.
Is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA (7.0IP, 7ER) and 10K in two starts at home this season (4/1 vs. San Francisco and Tuesday vs. Los Angeles-AL).
In 13 games (one start) at home in 2022, went 2-1 with one save and a 2.49 ERA (25.1IP, 16H, 8R/7ER, 12BB, 22K, 3HR)…allowed 1R-or-fewer in 12 of those appearances…tossed at least 2.0 innings in eight appearances and 3.0 innings in four of those games (all of which were scoreless).
FOR STARTERS: Will be making his 10th career start…over his first nine career Major League starts (four in 2023, three in 2022, one in 2021, one in 2020), is 0-4 with a 6.55 ERA (34.1IP, 46H, 28R/25ER, 12BB, 36K, 5HR)…has tossed 4.1IP-or-less in each of those starts.
Is 0-1 with an 8.79 ERA (14.1IP, 14ER) and 16K in four starts in 2023…has tossed 4.0IP-or-less in each start.
Went 0-2 with a 4.63 ERA (11.2IP, 6ER) and 14K in his three starts in 2022 (6/16 vs. Tampa Bay, 8/28 at Oakland, 9/3 at Tampa Bay).
