James Paxton Tabbed For The Finale As New York Looks To Sweep Toronto In The Bronx

In the finale against Houston who is a member of the American League West last weekend New York was denied the sweep as they lost 9-4.

In the finale against Toronto in the Bronx on Wednesday New York who is in first place in the American League East comes into the game with a record of 51-28 will have yet another opportunity to sweep their opponent. This time their opponent being Toronto who comes into the game with a record of 29-51 and is in fourth place in the American League East. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings who will look to salvage a game out of the three game series.

James Paxton who is from Ladner, BC, Canada will start the finale for New York. The left-hander who’s nickname is the Big Maple comes into the game with a record of 5-3 with a 3.75 earn run average. Paxton has won back-to-back starts, combining to permit three runs and 13 hits over 11 innings (2.45 ERA). He has walked four against 14 strikeouts in those outings. Paxton allowed four runs over 4 2/3 innings vs. the Blue Jays on June 5 in Toronto. He will oppose Toronto right -hander Trent Thornton who comes into the finale with a record of 2-5 with a 4.25 earn run average. Thornton was solid in his last start, striking out seven and holding the Red Sox to two runs on eight hits on Friday. The 25-year-old righty has a 2.96 ERA on the road this season, compared to a 6.39 mark at home. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

As for New York and Toronto’s previous game,

The confident conversation took place in the clubhouse hours before first pitch, with nine names speculated to be attached to a piece of history on Tuesday evening. Everyone wanted to slug the home run that gave the Yankees full custody of a Major League record. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-homer-in-28-straight-games

Aaron Judge relayed those words in the wake of a 4-3 victory over the Blue Jays, saying that Aaron Hicks had wondered if the moment would wait for him. Instead, the milestone came on the sixth pitch to leadoff hitter DJ LeMahieu, marking the Yanks' 28th consecutive game with at least one long ball. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-homer-in-28-straight-games

We were all kind of talking about it before the game, who's going to do it," Judge said. "Hicksy was like, 'It'll happen in the third inning when I get up there.' I was like, 'I don't think it's going to last that long. It might happen in the first, with DJ and me going up there.' DJ stole the show. I'm happy for him. No better person I'd want breaking that record." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-homer-in-28-straight-games

Judge followed LeMahieu's laser down the left-field line with a deep drive to right-center field, making for a quick start against Clayton Richard. The Bombers broke a previous mark held by Texas Rangers, who rode Alex Rodriguez and Rafael Palmeiro's bats to homer in 27 straight contests from Aug. 11 to Sept. 9, 2002. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-homer-in-28-straight-games

Gleyber Torres added a second-inning blast and Edwin Encarnacion also cleared the wall in the eighth with what proved to be the decisive blow as the Yankees won for the 10th time in 11 games, improving to a season-best 23 games over .500 (51-28). “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-homer-in-28-straight-games

"We've got so many good guys in this lineup," LeMahieu said. "For me, there's no pressure. If you don't come through, the next guy will. It's just a fun lineup to be a part of. One through nine, there's no easy outs throughout the lineup, that's for sure. You get to know the lineup, it's pretty scary." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-homer-in-28-straight-games

A total of 14 Yankees have combined to hit 51 home runs during the streak, including multiple homers in 14 of the 28 games. Judge joined the fun late -- the slugger’s homer was his first hit of any type in 11 at-bats since he returned from the injured list on Friday. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-homer-in-28-straight-games

Since May 26, when the streak began in an 8-7 loss at Kansas City, Gary Sanchez has paced the club with eight homers. LeMahieu is second with seven and Torres has slugged six. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-homer-in-28-straight-games

"I've heard players comment on it," manager Aaron Boone said. "They're very aware of it. It's impressive to me. It's a tribute to having a lot of good hitters and hitters that can hit for power. I think now we're seeing as we get more whole, they kind of protect each other." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-homer-in-28-straight-games

The previous franchise record was held by Joe DiMaggio's 1941 Yankees, who homered in 25 consecutive games from June 1-29 of that season.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-homer-in-28-straight-games

Any record you break always means something special," Judge said. "It means for the most part you're doing something good. When you've got guys that are great hitters, selective and they make a good pitch, they don't miss it and good things happen." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-homer-in-28-straight-games

New York improved to 7-0 in games when using an opener, and six of those wins have come with Chad Green handling the first inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-homer-in-28-straight-games

Working in back-to-back games for the first time this year, Green hurled a scoreless first inning before yielding to Nestor Cortes Jr., who logged the victory by permitting two runs on four hits over 4 1/3 innings with no walks and five strikeouts.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-homer-in-28-straight-games

We've got a sign right before you go out to the field that says, 'Do your job,'" Judge said. "That's what everybody is doing. It's fun to be a part of because it makes it fun coming to work here. The man next to you is going to go out and bust his butt. It's something special."

Encarnacion's late drive to the right-field seats off Tim Mayza appeared at the time to be a tack-on run, but it provided crucial insurance for closer Aroldis Chapman, who pitched around Randal Grichuk's RBI single in the ninth to record his 23rd save. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-homer-in-28-straight-games

A relative newcomer to the Yanks' power show, Encarnacion has been around the league long enough to know a good thing when he sees it. That is exactly how the American League's leading home run hitter feels about grabbing a small slice of a somewhat obscure but meaningful record.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-homer-in-28-straight-games

"I feel happy because I'm part of that," Encarnacion said. "It's a great group of guys, a great group of players. Anybody from leadoff to the No. 9 hitter can do damage. Every day it's somebody different. That makes us a good team." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-homer-in-28-straight-games

Meanwhile Toronto was yet again on the other end of the spectrum as they not only lost their second straight game in the series but the series as well.

Despite getting off to a tough start in the first couple of innings against the Yankees' powerful lineup, Clayton Richard ended up having a quality start, his first of the year. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough, as the Blue Jays were edged by the Yanks, 4-3, at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/clayton-richard-quality-start-in-blue-jays-loss

Richard had a first inning he would like to forget. The first two hitters he faced -- DJ LeMahieu and Aaron Judge -- each hit a solo home run to make it a 2-0 game. By the second inning, the Yankees had a 3-0 lead, thanks to a solo homer by Gleyber Torres. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/clayton-richard-quality-start-in-blue-jays-loss

However, Richard settled down. After Torres' homer, Richard held the Yanks scoreless for the next 4 1/3 innings. It helped that the 35-year-old southpaw was attacking the zone and keeping his slider down.”according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/clayton-richard-quality-start-in-blue-jays-loss

“I kept the ball in the park, for the most part,” Richard said. “You come into this place knowing that their lineup does damage. How quickly that happened in the first inning, it was kind of a pitcher’s nightmare. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/clayton-richard-quality-start-in-blue-jays-loss

“We made small adjustments that kept me down. We were able to get some quick outs after that. The defense played extremely well. We were able to make a little bit of a comeback. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to do the job.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/clayton-richard-quality-start-in-blue-jays-loss

The Blue Jays almost took Richard off the hook by making it a game against Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr. In the sixth inning, designated hitter Eric Sogard hit a sacrifice fly, scoring shortstop Freddy Galvis, while catcher Danny Jansen scored the second run for Toronto on a single by third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.”according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/clayton-richard-quality-start-in-blue-jays-loss

The Blue Jays nearly tied the score against closer Aroldis Chapman in the ninth inning. The team made it a one-run game when Randal Grichuk singled to centre field, scoring Lourdes Gurriel Jr.”according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/clayton-richard-quality-start-in-blue-jays-loss

Once again, the game weighed in the balance between Chapman and Galvis. As he did on Monday, Toronto's shortstop gave Chapman a battle in the second game of the series. This time, Galvis was behind quickly, 0-2, but Chapman had to throw five more pitches before Galvis grounded out to LeMahieu at second base to end the game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/clayton-richard-quality-start-in-blue-jays-loss

“The last pitch by Chapman was really good,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. “That was the only way he was going to get him out. Galvis was locked in and he was all good before he grounded to second base. It was an outstanding at-bat.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/clayton-richard-quality-start-in-blue-jays-loss

Richard shared his manager's sentiment about Galvis. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/clayton-richard-quality-start-in-blue-jays-loss

“When anybody watches Freddy go about his business, it’s really impressive,” Richard said. “People are focused on the clutch situations, but you have to look at innings one through nine to appreciate what he does. If you do that, you are not surprised by the at-bat in the ninth. You have to understand the work he has put into it. It gives him a chance and allows him to be himself in that situation, because he is so prepared.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/clayton-richard-quality-start-in-blue-jays-loss

Although Toronto is 29-51, Montoyo is seeing progress from his team. The Blue Jays took two out of three against the Red Sox in their last series and are playing the Yanks tough. according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/clayton-richard-quality-start-in-blue-jays-loss

“We are playing good baseball,” the manager said. “We are not winning every game, but we are swinging the bats. We are playing good defence. That’s what I mean when I say progress. We are playing good baseball.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/clayton-richard-quality-start-in-blue-jays-loss

First pitch is set for 1:05pm from Yankee Stadium. The game will be televised on Yes, SNET and Major League Baseball Network.