Sonny Gray Gets The Nod For The Series Finale In Toronto As New York Looks To Bounce Back

Sonny Gray who last season played for two different organizations first for Oakland before being traded to New York  at the trade deadline will start the series finale against Toronto. 

In 2017  though when Sonny Gray was traded to New York the offense had difficulty scoring runs when he  was the starter and because of that his record with New York was 4-7 with an earn run average of 4.72. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/_/id/32082/sonny-gray

New York comes into their series finale with Toronto with a record of 2-1 after suffering their first loss of the season in game three against Toronto.

Tyler Austin crushed two impressive home runs, but an eighth-inning blast and an embarrassing lapse on Dellin Betances ' watch sent the Yankees to their first defeat of the young season on Saturday afternoon. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

In a contest that was marred by a pair of injuries on the visiting side, Yangervis Solarte hit a go-ahead homer and  Kevin Pillar caught the Bombers napping with a straight steal of home plate, lifting the Blue Jays to a 5-3 victory at Rogers Centre."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

Austin brought his team back twice as he enjoyed the first multi-homer game of his career, slugging game-tying shots in the fifth and seventh innings, but was left standing on deck in the ninth as Roberto Osuna  froze Brett Gardner  looking for his first save of the year."according tohttps://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

"I thought we played pretty well. We just didn't come out on top," Austin said. "I'm just trying to get a good pitch and not miss it. That's really the big thing, trying to stay within myself and not try to do too much. Sometimes good things happen." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

Betances hurled a scoreless seventh, but left a 97-mph fastball over the plate to Solarte leading off the eighth inning. Pillar's daring baserunning produced another run; roping a one-out single, he stole second and third base, then dared Betances to pay attention with a dance toward home plate."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

When Betances came set, Pillar broke, dashing home as Betances uncorked a wild pitch."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

"I thought he was trying to distract me," Betances said. "I had two strikes at the time. They're trying to create runs, and obviously it was a savvy move by him. I've got to do a better job of stopping him instead of trying to come set and step off, doing too much at once. Next time, I'll be more aware of it." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

Justin Smoak had a big day for Toronto, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Neither starting pitcher factored into the decision; Austin drove in all three runs against Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada , who worked seven innings and scattered four hits. The victory was credited to Ryan Tepra who hurled a scoreless eighth. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

Returning to the mound where he feared his season -- and career -- might have ended with a right knee scare last August, CC Sabathia was charged with two runs (one earned) on five hits and a pair of walks, striking out four over five innings."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

"They put some good at-bats together the whole game, fouling off some good pitches," Sabathia said. "It's a tough lineup. I definitely feel good that he was able to let me go out and finish that [fifth] inning." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Canadian larceny: Already trailing after Solarte's homer, Betances had two outs and a 2-2 count on Gift Ngoepe as Pillar danced off third base, so the right-hander said that his focus was on the hitter. Pillar took advantage, racing home to become the first player in Blue Jays history to steal three bases in an inning, and the first Toronto player with a straight steal of home plate since Aaron Hill did it against the Yanks' Andy Pettitte on May 29, 2007."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

"It was a pretty cerebral moment for me," Pillar said. "There are a lot of things you dream about doing on the field, as a kid, getting to the big leagues. Stealing home is one of those things." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

Early exits: Billy Mkinney's left the second game of his big league career after crashing into the left-field fence, pursuing Josh Donaldson's first-inning double. Replaced by Brett Gardner, the rookie was diagnosed with a left shoulder AC sprain and has been placed on the 10-day disabled list, with infielder Miguel Andugarcalled up. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

Right-hander Adam Warren sustained a right ankle contusion after being struck by Aledmys Diaz's 's sixth-inning comebacker."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

"It is what it is. You've just got to go out, next man up, and be ready to play," Sabathia said. "It was the same thing last year. We look for guys to come in and step up. We talk about that in Spring Training; everybody in the room, be ready. Whoever is next, let's go." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

QUOTABLE
"It certainly gave us a lot of energy in the dugout. I loved the way the guys competed. Especially after his first at-bat where Estrada kind of had his way with him, two big swings like that, it's a little peek into the strength of Tyler Austin right there." -- manager Aaron Boone, on Austin's performance "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Austin became the seventh player to mash at least two 112-plus-mph home runs in the same game since Statcast was introduced in 2015.Aaron Judge  -- who played center field  for the first time in his MLB career Saturday -- was the only previous Yankee to do so, having accomplished the feat last April 28, against the Orioles in New York. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

Austin crushed a two-run shot in the fifth inning that was measured at 112.9 mph, traveling a Statcast-calculated 432 feet to left-center field. He went deep again in the seventh inning, producing an exit velocity of 112.7 mph on a drive down the left-field line that went 421 feet."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

Of his nine career homers, eight have either tied the game or given the Yankees the lead. Eight have also been against American League East opponents."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

Right-hander Adam Warren sustained a right ankle contusion after being struck by Aledmys Diaz's sixth-inning comebacker."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

"It is what it is. You've just got to go out, next man up, and be ready to play," Sabathia said. "It was the same thing last year. We look for guys to come in and step up. We talk about that in Spring Training; everybody in the room, be ready. Whoever is next, let's go." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

QUOTABLE
"It certainly gave us a lot of energy in the dugout. I loved the way the guys competed. Especially after his first at-bat where Estrada kind of had his way with him, two big swings like that, it's a little peek into the strength of Tyler Austin right there." -- manager Aaron Boone, on Austin's performance "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Austin became the seventh player to mash at least two 112-plus-mph home runs in the same game since Statcast was introduced in 2015. Aaron Judge -- who played center field for the first time in his MLB career Saturday -- was the only previous Yankee to do so, having accomplished the feat last April 28, against the Orioles in New York. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

Austin crushed a two-run shot in the fifth inning that was measured at 112.9 mph, traveling a Statcast-calculated 432 feet to left-center field. He went deep again in the seventh inning, producing an exit velocity of 112.7 mph on a drive down the left-field line that went 421 feet. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

Of his nine career homers, eight have either tied the game or given the Yankees the lead. Eight have also been against American League East opponents."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-unable-to-hold-off-blue-jays-late/c-270284672

 Right -hander Sonny Gray will make his first full season with the Yankees after going 4-7 with a 3.72 ERA in 11 starts following his late July trade from the A's. Gray ranked 10th in the AL with a 3.55 ERA overall and allowed two runs or fewer in 18-27 starts. He will face Toronto right-hander Marcus Stroman. Stroman missed most of Spring Training with a right shoulder injury. He returned in late March and only had time to make two spring starts before his first regular - season assignment. His pitch count should be limited to about 85. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-blue-jays/2018/04/01/529452#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=529452

First pitch is set for 1:07pm. The game will be televised on Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-blue-jays/2018/04/01/529452#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=529452