Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Toronto Blue Jays 8/9

The New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays will continue their three-game set this week with the middle game of the series tonight inside the Rogers Centre. In the first game of the series last night the fans were treated with a battle of two veteran southpaws in CC Sabathia and JA Happ but tonight the fans will watch as the Yankees send Masahiro Tanaka to the mound to square off with Cesar Valdez  Nick Tepesch for the Jays. It doesn’t matter what the standings say these two teams generally tend to bring their “A” games against one another so expect another fun one tonight with our neighbors from the north. Enjoy the game.

Tanaka was sharp for his second straight outing last time out leaving me wanting to go back to saying “Happy Tanaka Day” every time the Japanese-born right-hander makes a start. In his last start Tanaka held the Tigers to just two runs, one of them earned, and six hits in six innings of work. Unfortunately Tanaka took the loss in the start due to a lack of run support but has defeated the Blue Jays in both starts against them this season.

Valdez was hit hard by the Houston Astros in his last start as the AL West leading Astros scored six runs in 3.1 innings of work. To be fair, who haven’t the Astros tagged in 2017? Valdez has a 20.25 ERA in his last start including that Houston start though so if the Yankees could keep the trend going tonight in Toronto that would be great. Thanks in advance. Valdez was added to the 10-day DL and Nick Tepesch was called up to make the spot start. 

The game will be played at 7:07 pm ET inside the Rogers Centre and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV. You can also follow along in your cars and on the radio by tuning into the WFAN broadcast with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman. Enjoy the game and as always, Go Yankees!