PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* MLB Game of the Day >> Won 10* Monday in SHUTOUT Fashion!
(MLB) NY Yankees vs. Toronto,
Money Line: -123.00 Toronto (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -123.00 Toronto (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The NY Yankees will visit Toronto to take on the Blue Jays in a three-game series. Toronto has played in each of the last two ALCS matchups but here in 2017, it's the Yankees who are the playoff contender, not the Blue Jays. The Yankees opened the season having made the playoffs in just one of the last four seasons (lost the wild card game in 2015 to the Astros) but enter this series 59-51, good enough for second in the AL East (three games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox) but also 2 1/2 games up in the race for the first AL wild card spot. In contrast, the 52-59 Blue Jays are last in the AL East (10 1/2 games removed from first), as well as sitting five games out of the second wild-card spot but with SEVEN teams ahead of them!
The pitching matchup: It's a battle of lefties, as C.C. Sabathia (9-4 & 3.81 ERA) of the Yanks will be facing the Blue Jays' J.A. Happ (4-8 & 3.92 ERA). The 2017 season has seen a rebirth for Sabathia, who entered the season having won a total of just 18 games the previous three years (2014-16). He's got nine wins in 18 starts here in 2017 but more importantly, the Yankees are 13-5 in his starts, giving him MLB's 8th-best moneyline mark among starters at plus-$807. The veteran lefty is 16-10 (3.61 ERA) in 29 career starts vs. Toronto (teams are 17-12), including an impressive 8-2 record with a 2.80 ERA in 13 career starts at the Rogers Centre. J. A. Happ has faced the Yankees once this season, allowing one run on four hits while striking out six over six innings in a 4-1 win on July 4 (over Sabathia). He is 7-2 with a 3.63 ERA in 15 career starts against the Yankees (teams are 9-6). Happ had a "career year" in 2016 going 20-4 but he was injured early in 2017 and owns only four wins with about two months left in the season. However, he has pitched better lately, going 4-4 with a 3.32 ERA over his past 10 starts.
The pick: C.C. has not looked good in his last two outings (eight ERs allowed on 11 hits over just 10 1/3 innings for a 6.97 ERA) and he also owns a 7.62 ERA against the Blue Jays this season in three starts. Happ isn't exactly 'on fire' but he has allowed three ERs or less in nine of his last 10 starts (he's allowed two ERs or less, seven times). Make Toronto an 8* play.
The pitching matchup: It's a battle of lefties, as C.C. Sabathia (9-4 & 3.81 ERA) of the Yanks will be facing the Blue Jays' J.A. Happ (4-8 & 3.92 ERA). The 2017 season has seen a rebirth for Sabathia, who entered the season having won a total of just 18 games the previous three years (2014-16). He's got nine wins in 18 starts here in 2017 but more importantly, the Yankees are 13-5 in his starts, giving him MLB's 8th-best moneyline mark among starters at plus-$807. The veteran lefty is 16-10 (3.61 ERA) in 29 career starts vs. Toronto (teams are 17-12), including an impressive 8-2 record with a 2.80 ERA in 13 career starts at the Rogers Centre. J. A. Happ has faced the Yankees once this season, allowing one run on four hits while striking out six over six innings in a 4-1 win on July 4 (over Sabathia). He is 7-2 with a 3.63 ERA in 15 career starts against the Yankees (teams are 9-6). Happ had a "career year" in 2016 going 20-4 but he was injured early in 2017 and owns only four wins with about two months left in the season. However, he has pitched better lately, going 4-4 with a 3.32 ERA over his past 10 starts.
The pick: C.C. has not looked good in his last two outings (eight ERs allowed on 11 hits over just 10 1/3 innings for a 6.97 ERA) and he also owns a 7.62 ERA against the Blue Jays this season in three starts. Happ isn't exactly 'on fire' but he has allowed three ERs or less in nine of his last 10 starts (he's allowed two ERs or less, seven times). Make Toronto an 8* play.
