TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:

THE LATEST: The Blue Jays took the opening match of their weekend series with the Yankees by a score of 6-1 last night… Are now 5-2 in series openers and hold a 10-1 record when allowing three-or-fewer runs. Toronto has now won 11 of its last 16 contests…Can improve to 5-2-0 in series play with a win today.

JUST VLAD TO BE HERE: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. opened the scoring last night with a two-run homer in the 1st inning…Was his 4th home run of the season, all of which have come on the road…Now has 11 career home runs at Yankee Stadium, his most at any visiting ballpark…His .600 slugging percentage at the current venue trails only Aaron Judge for 2nd highest all-time (min. 100 AB). The 24-year-old also reached on an infield single and was hit by a pitch to finish 2-for-4 on the night…Is now 27-for-78 with a double, four homers, 11 RBI, and a 9BB/10K ratio for a .346 AVG (3rd in the AL), a .429 OBP (2nd), and a .941 OPS (8th)…His 27 hits are tied for 3rd most in the AL while his 40 total bases are tied for 9th…Has recorded 38 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this year, the most in the Majors.

BRANDON BELTS: Brandon Belt gave Toronto a 4-1 lead last night with a two-run blast in the 6th inning…The 416-foot fly to center marked his 1st home run as a Blue Jay, with his last longball coming on July 17, 2022 vs. MIL. The first baseman also drove in two more runs via a double in the 8th…The four RBI were his most in a game since driving in four on Sept. 25, 2021 at COL, which was also his last multi-XBH performance…Has notched seven hits in his last six games after recording one hit in his first six contests.

YUSEI SHINING: Yusei Kikuchi threw 6.0 innings of one-run ball last night to improve to 3-0 on the season…Allowed four hits and two walks while striking out three batters… Has back-to-back starts of 6+ innings and 0-or-1 runs allowed for the first time since June 18 and 25 of his 2021 All-Star campaign…Now owns a 3.80 ERA (9 ER/21.1 IP) and a .250 AVG as he has struck out 20 batters and walked five for a 1.17 WHIP.

BO KNOWS BASE HITS: Bo Bichette singled and walked last night to finish 1-for-4…Has gone 30-for-86 (.349) with four doubles, four homers, and 12 RBI while playing in all 20 games this season…The 30 hits are the most in the AL (2nd: Alex Verdugo – 28) and 4th most in MLB…Marks
the first time for a Toronto batter to record 30+ hits in the first 20 games of a season since Melky Cabrera had 31 in 2014…Among AL batters, Bichette currently ranks 2nd in AVG, 3rd in total bases (46), and 11th in SLG (.535).

NO IN BETWEEN: Toronto pitchers have now either allowed four-or-fewer runs or eight-or-more runs in all 20 games this season…According to Stats Perform, this is now tied for 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).

HITTING THE ROAD: The Blue Jays are on a six-game road trip (2-2 so far), holding an 8-6 record while away from Rogers Centre this season…Their 14 road games played are the most in the AL and 2nd most in MLB (NYM – 15G)…After this weekend set in New York, will return home for a six-game homestand to battle the White Sox (7-13) and Mariners (9-11) for three games apiece. Toronto’s .571 road win% currently ranks T-6th in the AL…Blue Jays hitters lead the AL in road hits (131) while ranking 3rd in road AVG (.263), 5th in OBP (.331), 6th in SLG (.408), and 6th in OPS (.739)…The pitching staff ranks 13th in the AL in road ERA (5.21), 13th in opponents’ batting average (.261), and 11th in WHIP (1.36).

1 at #9: Kevin Kiermaier singled in his first at-bat last night and finished 1-for-4 with a nifty sliding grab to rob Anthony Rizzo of a hit in the 3rd inning…Is now batting .310 (18-for-58) with three doubles, a triple, a home run, and six RBI to start his Blue Jays career (.770 OPS)…His 18 hits while batting 9th are the most in the Majors (2nd: Michael A. Taylor – 15).

RICHARDS ROLLING: Trevor Richards fanned two batters in a 1-2-3 8th inning last night…His 13 K’s lead all Toronto relievers and rank T-11th among AL relievers.

HITTING IT: The Blue Jays have notched 181 hits so far this season, 2nd most in the AL (1st: TB – 198)…Are also 2nd in the AL in team batting average (.261), 4th in OBP (.332), 5th in OPS (.735), and 6th in SLG (.403).

DIVISIONAL DETAILS: The Blue Jays are playing just their 2nd divisional series (also: 2-1 vs. TB)…Have now won 26 of their last 37 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).

READY TO REBOUND: Toronto has lost consecutive games just twice this season…Since 2021, is now 89-60 following a loss for a .597 win%, 2nd best among AL clubs behind Houston’s .617 (82-51) mark (courtesy Stats Perform)

VS. THE YANKEES: All-Time: 316-384
2023: 1-0 Road: 149-202
Road: 1-0 Yankee Stadium: 49-78

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 nine matchups overall…Now hold a record of 25-24 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 .292 (74-for-253) hitter against the Pinstripes, with 14 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs, and 43 RBI in 66 meetings (.880 OPS)…Has gone 37-for-125 (.296) with five doubles, 11 homers, and 19 RBI in his 32 games at Yankee Stadium (.953 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 .315 (67-for-213) across 52 games vs. the Yankees, including 17 doubles, 10 home runs, and 33 RBI (.889 OPS). Keivn 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 – Alek Manoah, RHP #6
TODAY’S GAME:
Making his 5th start of the season and his 3rd on the road…Took the loss his last time out 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.

Since entering the league in 2021, has held opposing hitters to a .204 AVG, good for 8th best among qualified hurlers.

2023 HIGHLIGHTS:
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).

NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:

AT A GLANCE: The Yankees continue their season-high 10-game homestand today with the second game of a three-game series vs. Toronto (0-1 thus far)…are 4-4 on the homestand after splitting their four-game set with Minnesota and winning two-of-three vs. Los Angeles-AL…following this homestand, will embark on a seven-game road trip to Minnesota (3G from Mon.-Wed.) and Texas (4/27-30).

Are 6-1 following a loss this season…have lost back-to-back games just once (4/13-14).

Have won four of their last six games…are 6-4 in their last 10 games (since 4/11) and 8-5 in their last 13 games (since 4/8).

YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Yankees dropped their series opener to the Blue Jays, 6-1, on Friday at Yankee Stadium… RHP Domingo Germán (6.0IP, 5H, 4ER, 2BB, 6K, 2HR) made his fourth start of the season and took the loss…Yankees batters were held to a season-low 1R…LF Oswaldo Cabrera (1-for-3, 1R, 1HR, 1RBI) drove in the Yankees’ only run with a solo HR in the second inning, his first HR of the year…CF Isiah Kiner-Falefa (1-for-2, 1BB) was the only Yankee to reach base multiple times…3B Oswald Peraza (0-for-3) made his first career appearance at third base…RHP Albert Abreu (2.0IP, 3H, 2ER, 1BB, 4K) had his career-high 9.2 scoreless streak (since 10/5/22) snapped after allowing a two-run double to Brandon Belt in the eighth inning…RHP Greg Weissert (1.0IP, 2BB, 1HP) tossed a scoreless ninth inning.

SERIES BUSINESS: The Yankees have won or split each of their first six completed series of a season for just the third time in the last 67 years (since 1957)…won or split each of their first nine series in 2003 and their first six series in 1976 (credit: Elias).

Are 10-0 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 65R in 20 games this season (3.25 R/G), marking their fifth-fewest runs allowed through their first 20 games in a season in the last 59 years since 1965 (61R in 2022, 63R in 2003 and 2017, and 64R in 1981)…have allowed 3R-orfewer in 13-of-20 games this season and 2R-or-fewer in nine of those games.

Their 3.17 ERA is the third-lowest in the AL and fourth-lowest in the Majors.

Also rank third in the Majors in strikeouts (197), WHIP (1.12) and K/9.0IP (9.91), fourth in opponents’ BA (.214) and opponents’ OBP (.291), fifth in opponents’ OPS (.638) and K/BB (3.23) and sixth in opponents’ SLG (.347).

BABY BOMBERS: INF Oswald Peraza (22y, 311d) and INF Anthony Volpe (21y, 359d) have both been in the Yankees’ starting lineups in three of the last four games (Tuesday, Thursday and Friday)…these three games mark the first time the club had two players age 22-or-younger in the starting lineup since 8/3/17 at Cleveland (Tyler Wade-22y, 253d; Clint Frazier-22y, 331d).

NOBODY BEATS THE RIZZ: INF Anthony Rizzo has reached base in 17 of his first 19 games this season, batting .324/.427/.544 (22-for-68) with 10R, 3 doubles, 4HR, 10RBI, 9BB, 4HP and 1SF.

Ranks fourth in the AL in OPS (.971), fourth in HP (4) and tied for fourth in OBP (.427).

Needs two hits to reach 1,500 career hits…needs 1RBI for 900 career RBI.

FAST AND FURIOUS: Yankees baserunners rank third in the AL and sixth in the Majors with 20SB…their 20SB mark their most through their first 20 games of a season in their last 22 years since 2002 and match their second-most through their first 20 games of a season in their last 34 years (since 1990), trailing only their 39SB in 1998 (also had 20SB in 2001).

WHAT A RELIEF: Yankees relievers have posted a 2.19 ERA (78.0IP, 19ER) this season, the lowest in the AL and the second-lowest by a Major League bullpen this season (Milwaukee – 2.05).

Also lead the Majors in strikeouts (91), rank third in opponents’ BA (.199) and opponents’ OPS (.598), fourth in opponents’ SLG (.305) and WHIP (1.10), and fifth in K/9.0IP (10.50).

Have posted a 1.95 ERA (69.1IP, 15ER) since 4/2.

COLE TRAIN: RHP Gerrit Cole will make his fifth start of the season today…is 4-0 with a 0.95 ERA (28.1IP, 3ER) and 32K in four starts this season…is the first Yankees pitcher in franchise history to record a sub-1.00 ERA and at least 30K through his first four appearances of a season (since ER became an official stat in 1913).

Has won his first four starts of a season for the second time in his career (also won his first four starts in 2013 with Pittsburgh)…is just the third Yankees pitcher in the last 39 years (since 1985) to win each of his first four games of a season, joining Mike Mussina (won his first seven starts in 2003) and David Cone (won his first four starts in 1995)…with a win today, would be just the third Yankee in the last 65 years (since 1959) to win his first five games of a season…would join Mussina (first seven in 2003) and Mel Stottlemyre (first five in 1969).

His four wins are tied with Tampa Bay’s Shane McClanahan (4-0) and Minnesota’s Joe Ryan (4-0) for the most in the Majors.

Is just the second Yankees starting pitcher in the last 65 years (since 1959) to post as low of an ERA through his first four appearances of a season, joining Tommy John (0.83 ERA in 1979)…Rob Gardner had a 0.90 ERA through his first four starts in 1972 but made relief appearances in
between those starts.

Ranks third in the Majors in opponents’ BA (.144), opponents’ OPS (.390), WHIP (0.74), fourth in opponents’ OBP (.212) and opponents’ SLG (.178), fifth in ERA (0.95) and tied for fifth in strikeouts (32).

Two of his four starts this season have been scoreless… has allowed 1R-or-fewer in three of his four starts.

Has recorded at least 8K in three of his four starts this season.

Is just the fourth Yankees pitcher in the last 42 seasons (since 1982) to toss at least 6.0IP and allow 2R-or-fewer in each of his first four starts of a season (Andy Pettitte – first four in 2010; Darrell Rasner – first four in 2008; Orlando Hernández – first four in 2002)… if he were to extend the streak today, he would be just the seventh pitcher (eighth time) in franchise history (since ER became an official stat in 1913), to toss at least 6.0IP and allow 2R-or-fewer in each of his first five starts of a season…would join Dave Righetti (first six in 1981), Ray Fisher (first six in 1914), Bill Monbouquette (first five in 1967 and 1968), Whitey Ford (first five in 1956), Eddie Lopat (first five in 1951) and Spud Chandler (first five in 1946).

Has not allowed a home run this season…his 28.1IP mark the most among Major League pitchers who have not surrendered a HR this season.

Has held opponents to a .144 BA (13-for-90)…has allowed 3H-or-fewer in three of his four starts.

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: INF Anthony Volpe has reached base safely in each of his last nine games, reaching base in 16-of-38 plate appearances (8H, 8BB) over that stretch (.421 OBP).

Has 8BB in his last seven games.

His 8SB are tied for the third-most in the Majors…has 5SB in his last six games.

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.

LEMACHINE: INF DJ LeMahieu is a career .333 (84-for-252) batter with 42R, 18 doubles, 1 triple, 10HR, 30RBI and 21BB in 64 games vs. the Blue Jays…is his third-highest BA against any opponent in his career (min. 10G)…in 61 games vs. Toronto as a Yankee, has hit .337 (82-for-243) with 42R, 17 doubles, 1 triple, 10HR, 30RBI 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).

BRONX BOMBERS: Yankees batters have homered in 17 of their first 20 games of a season for just the sixth time in franchise history (also 18G in 2001 and 17G in 2003, 2011, 2012 and 2020).

Their 28HR are the fourth-most in the Majors, trailing only Tampa Bay (45HR in 20G), Los Angeles-NL (36HR in 21G) and San Francisco (30HR in 19G).

GLEYBER DAY: INF Gleyber Torres has 16BB in 20 games this season…are the second-most in the AL and the fourth-most in the Majors…did not record his 16th walk in 2022 until his 67th game on 6/26/22 vs. Houston.

TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP GERRIT COLE (4-0, 0.95 ERA)
RHP Gerrit Cole will make his fifth start of the season on Saturday vs. Toronto…the 32-year-old will pitch on extended five days’ rest due to Monday’s team off day…tossed his fourth career shutout on Sunday vs. Minnesota (9.0IP, 2H, 0R, 1BB, 10K)…is 4-0 with a 0.95 ERA (28.1IP, 3ER) and 32K in four starts this season…is the first Yankees pitcher in franchise history to record a sub-1.00 ERA and at least 30K through his first four appearances of a season (since ER became an official stat in 1913)…in his third year with the Yankees in 2022, went 13-8 with a 3.50 ERA (200.2IP, 154H, 81R/78ER, 50BB, 257K, 33HR) in 33 regular season starts…his Major League-leading 257K last season were the most by a Yankees pitcher in a single season in franchise history, surpassing Ron Guidry’s previous record of 248K in 1978…the five-time All-Star (2015, ’18-19, ’21-22) has finished in the top-five of Cy Young Award voting five times (second in 2021, fourth in 2020, second in 2019, fifth in 2018, fourth in 2015)…his career 10.52 K/9.0IP ratio (1,962K/1,678.1IP) is the eighth-highest in Major League history (min. 1,000.0IP)…in 79 starts with the Yankees, is 40-19 with a 3.15 ERA (483.1IP, 169ER) and 626K…since 2018, leads the Majors in wins (75), strikeouts (1,228) and K/9.0IP (12.33), ranks second second in innings pitched (896.0IP), third in opponents’ BA (.201) and WAR among pitchers (24.5 – FanGraphs), fourth in winning percentage (.721, 75-29, min. 60 decisions) and WHIP (0.99), fifth in K/BB (5.39) and ERA (2.93)…was originally selected by the Yankees in the first round (28th overall) of the 2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft but did not sign and went on to play at UCLA for three seasons (2009-11)…was the first overall pick of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, the 15th pitcher (and 11th right-hander) to be chosen first…is the fifth player selected first overall to play for the Yankees, joining Alex Rodriguez, Darryl Strawberry, Tim Foli and Ron Blomberg…signed a nine-year contract extending through the 2028 season with a player opt-out following the 2024 season on 12/18/19.

LAST START: Tossed his fourth career shutout on Sunday vs. Minnesota (9.0IP, 2H, 0R, 1BB, 10K)…also tossed a shutout on 7/10/21 at Houston (9.0IP), Game 1 on 9/11/20 vs. Baltimore (7.0IP) and 5/4/18 at Arizona (9.0IP)…marked his seventh career complete game (first since 7/17/21 vs. Boston–6.0IP) and his fourth career nine-inning complete game (also 7/10/21 at Houston, 5/4/18 at Arizona and 7/27/16 vs. Seattle).

Sunday marked his 58th career double-digit strikeout game and second of the season (also 11K on Opening Day)…also marked his 23rd double-digit strikeout game as a Yankee, tying Ron Guidry (23) for the most in franchise history.

Was the first Yankee to throw a shutout since Nestor Cortes threw a rain-shortened shutout on 9/25/22 vs. Boston (6.0IP)…is the first Yankee to throw a nine-inning shutout since his own shutout on 7/10/21 at Houston.

Was just the third Yankee (fourth time) in the last 22 years (since 2002) to throw a nine-inning shutout and allow three-or-fewer baserunners, joining Corey Kluber (1BB in his no-hitter on 5/19/21 at Texas) and Masahiro Tanaka (2H and 1BB on 6/17/19 vs. Tampa Bay and 3H on 4/27/17 at Boston).

Marked his 32nd career scoreless start of at least 5.0IP.

TROPHY CASE: Was named the AL “Player of the Week” for 4/10-16 after going 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA (16.0IP, 7H, 2ER, 3BB, 13K, 0HR) in two starts…during that span, he led the Majors in innings pitched and tied for first in wins (also tied for first in AL)…also ranked third in the AL in opponents’ OBP (.185) and opponents’ OPS (.365)…marked Cole’s second career “Player of the Week” honor (also 9/23-29/19 with Houston)…was just the third Yankees starting pitcher (fourth time) to win the award since 2004, joining Corey Kluber (5/17-23/21 and 4/26-5/2/21) and Michael Pineda (5/4-10/15).

2023: Is 4-0 with a 0.95 ERA (28.1IP, 3ER) and 32K in four starts this season…is the first Yankees pitcher in franchise history to record a sub-1.00 ERA and at least 30K through his first four appearances of a season (since ER became an official stat in 1913).

Is just the second Yankees starting pitcher in the last 65 years (since 1959) to post as low of an ERA through his first four appearances of a season, joining Tommy John (0.83 ERA in 1979)…Rob Gardner had a 0.90 ERA through his first four starts in 1972 but made relief appearances in between those starts.

Is tied for the Major League lead in wins (4), ranks third in opponents’ BA (.144), opponents’ OPS (.390), WHIP (0.74), fourth in opponents’ OBP (.212) and opponents’ SLG (.178), fifth in ERA (0.95) and tied for fifth in strikeouts (32).

Two of his four starts this season have been scoreless…has allowed 1R-or-fewer in three of his four starts.

Has recorded at least 8K in three of his four starts this season.

Is just the fourth Yankees pitcher in the last 42 seasons (since 1982) to toss at least 6.0IP and allow 2R-or-fewer in each of his first four starts of a season (Andy Pettitte – first four in 2010, Darrell Rasner – first four in 2008; Orlando Hernández – first four in 2002)… if he were to extend the streak today, he would be just the seventh pitcher (eighth time) in franchise history (since ER became an official stat in 1913), to toss at least 6.0IP and allow 2R-or-fewer in each of his first five starts of a season…would join Dave Righetti (first six in 1981), Ray Fisher (first six in 1914), Bill Monbouquette (first five in 1967 and 1968), Whitey Ford (first five in 1956), Eddie Lopat (first five in 1951) and Spud Chandler (first five in 1946).

Has not allowed a home run this season…his 28.1IP mark the most among Major League pitchers who have not surrendered a HR this season.

Has held opponents to a .144 BA (13-for-90).

Has allowed 3H-or-fewer in three of his four starts.

Has received 3R-or-fewer of support in three of his first four starts.

Began the season with a 12.0 scoreless inning streak (3/30-4/5).

WINNING WAYS: Has won his first four starts of a season for the second time in his career (also won his first four starts in 2013 with Pittsburgh)…is just the third Yankees pitcher in the last 39 years (since 1985) to win each of his first four games of a season, joining Mike Mussina (won his first seven starts in 2003) and David Cone (won his first four starts in 1995)…with a win today, would be just the third Yankee in the last 65 years (since 1959) to win his first five games of a season…would join Mussina (first seven in 2003) and Mel Stottlemyre (first five in 1969).

His four wins are tied with Tampa Bay’s Shane McClanahan (4-0) and Minnesota’s Joe Ryan (4-0) for the most in the Majors.

MILESTONE MAN: Struck out Blake Sabol in the second inning on Opening Day for his 600th strikeout as a Yankee… according to Elias, Cole joined Nolan Ryan as the only two pitchers in Major League history to record at least 600K with three different franchises.

IN PINSTRIPES: In 79 starts with the Yankees, is 40-19 with a 3.15 ERA (483.1IP, 169ER) and 626K…has allowed 3ER-or-fewer in 61-of-79 starts…has allowed 2ER-or-fewer in 52 starts as a Yankee, the second-most such starts in the AL and tied for the fifth-most starts in the Majors in that stretch…has recorded 16 scoreless starts as a Yankee, tied for the most scoreless starts by any AL pitcher in that span.

His 40 wins since 2020 are the most in the AL and the second-most in the Majors over that stretch, trailing only Julio Urías (43-12).

His 626K since 2020 are the most in the Majors…his 11.66 K/9.0IP ratio in that span is the best in the Majors (min. 400.0IP)…has finished in the top-five of Cy Young Award voting in two of his first three seasons in pinstripes (second in 2021, fourth in 2020).

His 23 double-digit strikeout games as a Yankee are tied with Ron Guidry for the most in franchise history.

KING OF THE HILL: Since 2018, leads the Majors in wins (75), strikeouts (1,228) and K/9.0IP (12.33), ranks second second in innings pitched (896.0IP), third in opponents’ BA (.201) and WAR among pitchers (24.5 – FanGraphs), fourth in winning percentage (.721, 75-29, min. 60 decisions) and WHIP (0.99), fifth in K/BB (5.39) and ERA (2.93).

Has recorded 15 scoreless starts of at least 5.0 innings since 2021, tied for the most in the Majors in that span.

VS. TORONTO: Will be making his 13th career start vs. the Blue Jays tonight…is 6-2 with a 3.75 ERA (72.0IP, 30ER) and 74K in 12 starts vs. Toronto…has allowed 2ER-or-fewer in seven of his last 11 starts vs. Toronto.

As a Yankee, is 5-2 with a 3.54 ERA (61.0IP, 24ER) in 10 starts vs. the Blue Jays…is 1-2 with a 3.90 ERA (27.2IP, 12ER) and 29K in five starts at Yankee Stadium.

Made three starts vs. the Blue Jays in 2022, going 1-1 with a 5.00 ERA (18.0IP, 10ER) in three starts vs. the Blue Jays.

STRIKEOUT MACHINE: Has recorded double-digit strikeouts in 44 games since the start of 2019, marking the most in the Majors over the span (next: Max Scherzer-28)…his 52 games with at least 10K since the beginning of 2018 are also the most in the Majors in that span (next: Max Scherzer-46).

Has recorded at least 8K in three of his four starts this season…has posted a 10.16 K/9.0IP ratio (32K/28.1IP).

Is one of four pitchers this season to record multiple double-digit strikeout games, joining Minnesota’s Joe Ryan (two), Los Angeles-AL’s Shohei Ohatani (two) and Arizona’s Zac Gallen (two).

HOME SWEET HOME: Is 3-0 with a 0.42 ERA (21.1IP, 1ER) and 29K in three home starts this season…as a Yankee, has gone 18-10 with a 2.75 ERA (242.1IP, 74ER) and 319K in 39 starts at Yankee Stadium…has allowed 2ER-or-fewer in 28 of those 39 starts…his 2.75 ERA at home since 2020 is the lowest in the AL in that stretch (min. 200.0IP).