The New York Yankees has clinched a berth in the playoffs, and tonight they will meet up with the Toronto Blue Jays to begin a four-game series, away in the Jays 2020 home, Buffalo. The Yankees were hoping to clinch their berth in the postseason last night in Boston. The Yankees, riding a ten-game winning streak, entered last night’s game with high hope, but Deivi Garcia failed, and the Yankee’s bat were near silent. Never the less, the Yankees clinched their 22nd postseason berth in 26 years when the Seattle Mariners lost to the San Diego Padres.
Pitching sensation Deivi Garcia, in his fifth start of the season, only lasted three innings, giving up six runs in the eventual Yankee 10-2 loss. The only bright spot in the game is when Luke Voit hit his 21st home run of the season, which leads all of baseball. 21 home runs in this short season equate to 64 home runs in a regular 162 game season. The would beat the Yankee home run record leader’s 61 home runs in 1961.
Tonight should be a pleasant evening for baseball, with a game-time temperature (6:37 pm) in the high ’60s. The game will be played under mostly clear skies with no chance of showers. The game will be broadcast on the Yes Network, on SNET in Canada, and nationally on MLB Network (out of market only).
The New York Yankees have met up with the Blue Jays six times, so far in the season, winning four of those games, but they never have faced Matt Shoemaker. The righty Shoemaker has been on the IL with right shoulder problems. There will be pressure on Shoemaker to win tonight’s game, as it could cement his place as the third starter in the Blue Jay’s postseason. He is 0-1 with an ERA of 4.91. The Jays have lost 4 of the 34-year-olds starts. In his last start, he went five innings in the eventual Jay’s win while striking out six Tampa Bay Rays. Coming off the IL, the Jays don’t expect him to go more than 60 pitches.
The New York Yankees, in an attempt to line up pitchers for the postseason, will give both Gerrit Cole and Masahiro Tanaka an extra day’s rest, and start this game with an opener. That opener could be Michael King or Jonathan Loaisiga, although that is no surety. Loaisiga is 3-0 on the season with an ERA of just 2.70 and has started 3 games this season. The Yankees last year and this year, has been quite successful in opener games. Chad Green is the most successful game opener, so he is a possibility.
“We’re going to try to win games,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “We’d love to have those (wild card) games at home — not at the expense of anyone, but our guys should be good and ready to go.”
Both teams had streaks end on Sunday. The Yankees (31-22) lost 10-2 to the Boston Red Sox to stop a 10-game winning streak, and the Blue Jays (27-26) defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 to end their skid at six. Both teams will be looking to improve their seeding in the postseason. It’s most important for the Blue Jays to win as they move closer to clinching their berth in the playoffs. The Yankees swept the Blue Jays in their last meeting at Yankee Stadium.