Masahiro Tanaka Looking To Continue His Resurgence As New York Looks To Rebound As They Host Toronto

Masahiro Tanaka returns to the mound for Monday's series opener at Yankee Stadium against Toronto where he will look to continue his resugence. 

Toronto travels  to New York on Monday where they'll send Marcus Stroman to the mound to face Masahiro Tanaka in an American League East showdown as the All-Star break draws closer. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170702240043436/stroman-tanaka-to-duel-as-blue-jays-visit-bronx/?game_pk=491347

Stroman has been Toronto's most consistent starter this season. Through 16 starts, he owns a 3.41 ERA and is on pace to push for his second consecutive 200-inning season. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170702240043436/stroman-tanaka-to-duel-as-blue-jays-visit-bronx/?game_pk=491347

Following a tough outing against the Rangers on June 22 -- the second game in a row he had allowed three home runs -- Stroman bounced back with seven shutout innings against the Orioles on Wednesday with eight strikeouts. With plenty of sinking action on his fastball and a deep arsenal of secondary pitches, the right-hander continues to rank near the top of the league in ground-ball contact. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170702240043436/stroman-tanaka-to-duel-as-blue-jays-visit-bronx/?game_pk=491347

Tanaka, meanwhile, is working through his most difficult season in the Major Leagues, but his past two starts have provided some optimism that he's turning things around. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170702240043436/stroman-tanaka-to-duel-as-blue-jays-visit-bronx/?game_pk=491347

The 28-year-old tossed eight shutout innings against the Rangers and followed that up with another quality start against the White Sox his last time out. He also managed to avoid the long ball in both of those starts, which had been giving him serious problems since the beginning of May. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170702240043436/stroman-tanaka-to-duel-as-blue-jays-visit-bronx/?game_pk=491347

Stroman's slider has become his second most used pitch in 2017, and the results are there to back it up. After forcing a whiff rate of 16.5 percent with his sliders in '16, that number has jumped up to 25.3 percent this season, according to Statcast. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170702240043436/stroman-tanaka-to-duel-as-blue-jays-visit-bronx/?game_pk=491347

This series will be Toronto's first look at Clint Frazier, the Yankees' No. 2 prospect who made his MLB debut on Saturday and hit his first career home run. Frazier joined the Yankees last season from Cleveland in the Andrew Miller deal, and prior to his promotion, owned a .816 OPS with 12 home runs in Triple-A. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170702240043436/stroman-tanaka-to-duel-as-blue-jays-visit-bronx/?game_pk=491347

 Tanaka holds the advantage against many of Toronto's top hitters in their career head-to-head numbers. Justin Smoak is hitless in 11 at-bats with five strikeouts, while Josh Donaldson is 3-for-21 (.143) and Russell Martin is 1-for-11 (.091). Steve Pearce could earn another start against a right-hander on Monday, though, given his two career home runs against Tanaka. "according to thttp://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170702240043436/stroman-tanaka-to-duel-as-blue-jays-visit-bronx/?game_pk=491347o 

As for New York last game, they are coming off an 8-1 loss Sunday in Houston.  

 was not an easy an easy game Sunday for the New York pitcher Luis Severino or the offense that was supposed to be backing him up which made for a rough outing as New York got routed by Houston. 

Marwin Gonzalez tagged Yankees starter  Luis Severino with a two-run homer in the second to ignite the Astros as Houston cruised, 8-1, on Sunday at Minute Maid Park to clinch its 19th series win in 2017. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/239866394/astros-beat-yankees-to-secure-series-win/

"We're going to play every game," said Astros manager A.J. Hinch. "We're going to play hard, we're going to win a lot of games and a lot of series. What order they come in doesn't matter to me. I just want to win." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/239866394/astros-beat-yankees-to-secure-series-win/

The Astros' 27th win in 45 home games this season saw Mike Fiers become the first starting pitcher since 1913 to throw 100 or more pitches and four innings or fewer without allowing a run. At 56-27, the Astros are 29 games over .500 for the first time since holding a 91-62 record on Sept. 27 of the 2001 season. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/239866394/astros-beat-yankees-to-secure-series-win/

"This is a special group of guys," Hinch said. "But they're not satisfied. They have so many elite qualities about themselves as a group." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/239866394/astros-beat-yankees-to-secure-series-win/

"We're talented, we're hungry and we want to be great," said Astros catcher Brian Mccann  "We show up with that attitude on a daily basis. Besides that, we've got some guys that can flat-out play the game of baseball." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/239866394/astros-beat-yankees-to-secure-series-win/

Add in five innings from Houston's workhorse bullpen, and a season-high seven doubles from the offense, and it was enough to handle the Yankees, who finished their seven-game road trip at 3-4. Severino allowed six runs over 5 1/3 innings. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/239866394/astros-beat-yankees-to-secure-series-win/

"It's difficult. Right now, it's the hottest team in baseball," Severino said. "You have to command your pitches. I think that was the problem." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/239866394/astros-beat-yankees-to-secure-series-win/

Carlos Correa sparked the Astros with four hits, including two doubles, to extend his season-best hitting streak to 12 games and career-long on-base streak to 20 games. Correa, who drove in three runs, has 58 RBIs to lead all Astros and all American League shortstops. Correa had four hits Sunday, which tied his career high, and three two-outs RBIs. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/239866394/astros-beat-yankees-to-secure-series-win/

"He's gotten really good at being productive and driving in runs," Hinch said, "and having big at-bats in big moments." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/239866394/astros-beat-yankees-to-secure-series-win/

Correa and Yuli Gurriel , who also hit a two-run homer and finished a triple shy of the cycle, combined to drive in five runs. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/239866394/astros-beat-yankees-to-secure-series-win/

Chris Carter's  ninth-inning RBI single off Ashur Toliver  helped the Yankees avoid being shut out for the first time this season. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/239866394/astros-beat-yankees-to-secure-series-win/

Veteran left fielder Brett Gardner had this to say after New York was defeated by Houston. Nobody is as disappointed in the way the last few weeks have gone than the guys in this room," That being said, we're only a couple of games out of first place. We have had a good first half. We just couldn't seem to come through with the big hit. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/239866394/astros-beat-yankees-to-secure-series-win/

New York drops to 43-37 and is now 3.0 games back in the American League East of their rival Boston while Houston improves to 56-27 on the season.

As for Toronto they have a record of 37-44 and is coming off a lopsided 15-1 loss to Boston Sunday in the finale. 

Mookie Betts was a one-man wrecking crew on Sunday afternoon, belting two homers and tying a career high with eight RBIs while leading the Red Sox to a 15-1 romp over the Blue Jays to complete a three-game sweep at Rogers Centre "according to http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/240081640/red-soxs-mookie-betts-goes-wild-against-jays/

Betts, who went 4-for-6 with 3 runs, became the first leadoff hitter in Red Sox history to amass eight RBIs, and the first in MLB since Ronnie Belliard for the Rockies in 2003. Only five players including Betts have accumulated eight RBIs while batting first. "according to http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/240081640/red-soxs-mookie-betts-goes-wild-against-jays/

"It's pretty cool to have your name mentioned like that," said Betts. "Have to get ready for tomorrow, though." "according to http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/240081640/red-soxs-mookie-betts-goes-wild-against-jays/

Betts become the second player in history to accumulate at least four hits, two homers, eight RBIs and a stolen base in the same game. Carl Reynolds accomplished the feat in 1930 for the White Sox. In the zone? Of course, he was. "according to http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/240081640/red-soxs-mookie-betts-goes-wild-against-jays/

"Today I felt pretty good," said Betts. "I got some good pitches to hit and tried to put a good swing on it and hope for the best at that point." "according to http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/240081640/red-soxs-mookie-betts-goes-wild-against-jays/

Mookie's mashing started in the second inning with a RBI single to left. In the fourth, he roped a three-run homer to left. Betts walloped his second homer of the day to left in the sixth, a two-run shot that had an exit velocity of 109.3 mph, per statcast the fourth-hardest ball Betts has hit this season. "according to http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/240081640/red-soxs-mookie-betts-goes-wild-against-jays/

He wasn't done there. Betts went up the middle for a two-run single in the seventh. As for the Boston pitching, Drew Pomeranz was solid for a fourth straight start, earning the win. The left-hander went six innings and threw 104 pitches, allowing just the one run on five hits while walking two and striking out three. "according to http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/240081640/red-soxs-mookie-betts-goes-wild-against-jays/

"Drew's been strong, he's been very consistent and on a really good run in his own right," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "according to http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/240081640/red-soxs-mookie-betts-goes-wild-against-jays/

Blue Jays starter Joe Biagini struggled over 5 1/3 innings, allowing seven earned runs on 10 hits and a pair of walks to push his ERA up to 5.03. The big right-hander filled the zone, throwing 71 of his 105 pitches for strikes, but couldn't stay away from the hard contact. "according to http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/240081640/red-soxs-mookie-betts-goes-wild-against-jays/

"He was making some good pitches along the way," said manager John Gibbons. "Just consistently, he couldn't do it enough and he wasn't putting guys away when he had everything in his favor a lot of times." "according to http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/240081640/red-soxs-mookie-betts-goes-wild-against-jays/

Right -hander Masahiro Tanaka will get the start for New York. He has a record of 6-7 with a 5.56 earn run average. Tanaka is looking to continue his recent run of better pitching performances. He will go up against Toronto right -hander Marcus Stroman who has a record of 8-4 with a 3.41 earn run average. Stroman tossed a career -high 119 pitches during his last outing against the Orioles. He allowed five hits while striking out eight over 7/2/3 innings. He has quality starts in five of his last six outings. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/blue-jays-vs-yankees/2017/07/03/491347#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491347

Will Masahiro Tanaka pitch as great as he did in his last outing against the White Sox? Will the offense that struggled in the finale against Houston find it's groove again and be able to back up Masahiro Tanaka's start and rebound from their loss? Will the New York offense be able to get runs off Marcus Stroman? Will the Toronto offense be able to get runs off Masahiro Tanaka? 

First pitch is set for 7:05. The game will be televised on Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/blue-jays-vs-yankees/2017/07/03/491347#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491347