Yanks/Blue Jays, Series Preview

So you may have heard the Blue Jays are coming into the Bronx this weekend for a three game set starting tonight.  The Yankees have a six game lead in the loss column today so the pressure is most certainly on the Toronto.  Since making the two biggest splashes at the trade deadline, the Blue Jays are searing.  They're coming off an 8-2 homestand and they are scoring runs even more frequently than the Yankees are.  They've had the most potent lineup in baseball all season long and they bolstered it last week by adding the oft-injured Troy Tulowitzki.  There's no telling how long he'll hold up on that artificial turf at Rogers Center, but for now he's healthy and one of the best players on the planet.  They also added the crown jewel of the trade deadline by bringing aboard David Price.  Not too shabby.

Pitching Matchups:

Tonight (7pm)
Nate Eovaldi (11-2, 4.30 ERA) vs. R.A. Dickey (6-10, 4.06 ERA)

Not feeling great about tonight.  I know the Yankees have a knack for scoring when Nate is on the mound but you can't count on that.  Eovaldi has been good.  He's gotten more consistent and he's much better than he was earlier this year but he's still very hittable.  He throws a a good, hard fastball without a lot of movement but this is a GREAT fastball hitting team.  This is a big test for Nate.  We just have to hope that a lot of those loud outs he usually gets end up being outs and not home runs.

On the other side R.A. Dickey is pitching really well lately.  He hasn't given up more than two earned runs in five straight starts and he's won three straight games.  The Yanks just struggled against Steven Wright on Wednesday so we'll see if the recent experience gives the Yankees a better look tonight or if it's just going to be more of the same.

Saturday (1pm)
Ivan Nova (4-3, 3.10) vs. David Price (10-4, 2.45)

Nova has looked solid since coming back from Tommy John.  He hasn't given up more than 2 earned runs in his last three starts and he's coming off a really strong effort against the White Sox on August 2nd.  He still has room to improve.

The Yanks will see a familiar face in David Price on Saturday.  Price had a masterful outing in his Blue Jay's debut, striking out 11 over 8 innings.  He hasn't pitched well historically against the Yankees but this team is different than the ones he used to face in Tampa.  Still, McCann and Ellsbury both own him so they'll have an opportunity to do some damage on Saturday.  Price doesn't scare me.  Good pitcher....Really good pitcher.  But he doesn't scare me.

Sunday (1pm)
Masahiro Tanaka (8-4, 3.84) vs Marco Estrada (9-6, 3.40 ERA)

Tanaka was ok his last start against the Red Sox.  For a few innings he looked to be in complete control and then sort of unraveled in the fifth.  At this point we're all thinking postseason and we're waiting for Tanaka to pitch like the ace of this staff.  A game against the big bad Blue Jay lineup is a huge barometer test for him to see where he's at, and if he's ready to take that title and run with it.

Estrada hasn't been in the rotation for the entire season but since he was moved there in May he's been good.  He mixes his speeds really well but he doesn't throw very hard.  The Yankees tagged him earlier this season for 5 runs in 4.2 innings back in May.  Very hittable pitcher.

All of the pressure right now is on Toronto.  They're the ones who are six games back in the loss column.  They're also the ones who never win a game when they come to the Bronx so excuse me if I'm not ready to anoint them AL East champs.  I've never been scared of the Blue Jays a day in my life and I'm not starting today.