New York Looks To Get Back On Track Against Toronto By Using An Opener

On Friday using a traditional starter didn’t go as planned for Aaron Boone and New York so on Saturday when they play game three of their four game series in Toronto they will use an opener and try to get back in the win column and take the lead in the series.

When starting an opener New York is 11-0.

For most of the season the opener has been right -hander Chad Green but in the series in Baltimore Aaron Boone decided to go with fellow right -hander Jonathan Holder. While he was in the game on Tuesday night he pitched three innings and allowed two runs on three hits with no walks and two strikeouts across 2.2 innings in a no-decision “according to https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/yankees-jonathan-holder-yields-two-runs-as-opener/ but he was recently put on injured list with right shoulder inflammation so he’s not an option.

So who will Aaron Boone turn to help get New York back on track ? Right -hander Chad Green who has a record of 2-3 with a 4.93 earn run average, “according to https://www.mlb.com/player/chad-green-643338 I had to make a prediction I would say Aaron Boone would start Chad Green but who knows until the game actually begins but who ever Aaron Boone decides they will face Toronto’s Jacob Waguespack who comes into the game with a record of 3-1 with a 4.00 earn run average. The righty sparkled in six shutout innings against the Rays on Monday, scattering four hits and walking just one. Waguespack's recent success -- he has allowed just one run in his past 12 innings -- is due, he said, to a more aggressive approach. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

New York who is leading the American League East comes into the third game of the four game series with a record of 76-40 while Toronto comes into the second game of the four game series with a record of 48-71 and is in fourth place in the division. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings

As for New York and Toronto’s previous game,

The winning streak started on July 31st which is the last day of the trade deadline where New York topped Arizona. Then New York went on to sweep their American League East rival Boston in a four game set in Bronx and then they went on to sweep Baltimore in a three game series in Maryland.

Then it was off to Canada where they won the opening of the four game series at Rogers Centre on Thursday over Toronto.

Urshela belted two homers for the second consecutive evening on Thursday, clearing the fences in the first and third innings as the Yankees thumped the Blue Jays, 12-6, for their season-high ninth consecutive victory. Mike Tauchman also went deep as the Bombers became the first Major League club to hit 19 homers over a four-game span. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays

"I try to put the ball in play in those situations, with runners in scoring position," Urshela said. "I got the homers, and that's a better feeling. I'm trying to swing at the ball in the zone, trying to drive the ball more. I try to hit it with the barrel and keep my hands inside the ball." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays

Helping Domingo Germán join Justin Verlander as the only 15-game winners in the Majors, Urshela's dual blasts off Blue Jays starter Thomas Pannone gave him a career-high 16, following a 15-month span in which he was jettisoned by both the Indians and Blue Jays. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays

The Jays swapped Urshela to the Yankees in exchange for cash considerations last Aug. 4, and the previously unheralded 27-year-old appears to have found a home at the hot corner in New York, now riding a 13-game hitting streak. He has homered in three straight games for the first time in his career. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays

"I actually played with him in Venezuela three years ago," Tauchman said. "He was an incredible player then, so I've seen the offense, him being an offensive force, a doubles machine. Obviously, he's driving the ball out of the ballpark and that's not even touching on his defense, which is incredible, too. The way he's played this year, he's been a huge part of our team." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays

The first Yankee to post back-to-back multihomer games since Aaron Judge on Sept. 24 and 25, 2017, Urshela says his time at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre was instrumental, particularly the changes he made to drive more with his legs at the suggestion of hitting coach Phil Plantier. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays

"That's a big change for my career, coming to the Yankees from the Blue Jays," Urshela said. "It feels good to be here now. I learned a lot from my experience in Triple-A with the Yankees. I worked a lot." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays

If Urshela's emergence rates as the Yankees' most pleasant surprise of the season, Tauchman's isn't far behind. A late spring pickup from the Rockies, Tauchman has exceeded all expectations, with his two-run homer off Zack Godley highlighting a six-run third inning. “according https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays

"They’ve been impact players for us," manager Aaron Boone said. "They do it on both sides of the ball. It’s come in a lot of big situations. They have worked hard at getting better at their craft. They’ve done a good job of having a plan going into the game. They are going out and executing. You can see it in the confidence that they’re displaying at this level now." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays

It was Tauchman's fourth homer in as many games, and his 11th overall. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays

"I think as an offense, we're kind of in the zone right now," Tauchman said. "Look at the production we've been putting up lately. I think that definitely makes it tough for opposing pitchers to navigate our lineup." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays

Domingo qualifies

Staked to an eight-run lead through three innings, German faltered in the fifth, as Boone said thehttps://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays righty's stuff "was a little bit flat." Derek Fisher and Bo Bichette homered off German before left fielder Cameron Maybin lost a ball in the twilight that led to a fourth Toronto run. “according to

German stabilized enough to qualify for the victory, permitting four runs (three earned) and eight hits in a 90-pitch effort. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays

“Of course you feel satisfied about winning," German said through an interpreter. "As a starting pitcher, the mentality is to go out there and win the game. Go as long as you can, but at the end of the day, you want to win the game. So I’m satisfied with the amount of wins." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays

Meanwhile Toronto suffered a setback in the opening game of the four game series against New York.

- Bo Bichette, maker of history. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees

In his short time in the big leagues, Bichette has altered the record books, both in Toronto and around the Major Leagues, seemingly every time he’s stepped on the field. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees

With a home run in the fifth inning of the Blue Jays’ 12-6 loss to the Yankees on Thursday -- his fourth, and first at Rogers Centre -- the 21-year-old shortstop added to his already impressive Major League resume. The long ball extended his streak of extra-base hits to nine games, making him the first rookie since Ted Williams in 1939 to accomplish the feat. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees

“We’re watching history, that’s what we’re doing,” manager Charlie Montoyo said. “The doubles and home runs, that’s why everybody’s saying, ‘Wow.’ He’s fun to watch. I’m glad I’m here watching him. Front row.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees

Despite the feeling of familiarity Bichette’s latest accomplishments bring to a team that has seen nothing else from the young infielder during his time in the Majors, his first home run in front of a home crowd of 34,108 was one that will stick with him for at least a little while. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees

“When I hit the homer, that was the first chills moment I’ve had in the big leagues so far,” Bichette said. “Running around the bases, and the crowd was pretty loud, the loudest I’ve ever had. So that was a pretty cool moment.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees

In the sixth inning, Bichette doubled to extend his streak of two-base hits to nine games as well, the longest stretch the Majors has ever seen. The double also helped MLB Pipeline's No. 8 prospect become the first player to notch 13 extra-base hits in his first 11 games.”according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Montoyo said. “Well, what he’s doing is history, so of course I’ve never seen it, but he’s 21 years old [and] he’s hitting [.408] and hitting doubles and home runs, so I expect him to be happy, but the energy he has anyways, that’s how he plays. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees

“That’s how these kids play, so it’s going to be fun. I said it at the beginning of the season, whenever these kids get together, they’re going to be fun to watch. Right now, it’s fun to watch. If [I was a fan], I would come to the games and watch these kids play.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees

“I’d be lying to you if I said I thought that I’d be breaking records,” Bichette said prior to the game. “But I do expect to play well, and I think those records are a byproduct of putting in the work and going out there and being aggressive, and trying to treat the game like any other game.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees

The home run also gave Bichette a hit in all 11 big league games he has played, extending the longest streak to begin a career in franchise history. It's the third longest such streak by a player 21 or younger, behind Rocco Baldelli -- who hit in 13 straight games in 2003 -- and Eddie Murphy, who had a 12-game streak to start his career in 1912. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees

A seemingly unstoppable force of nature through his career-opening streak, Bichette set an additional franchise record on Thursday with 20 hits in his first 11 games, three more than any other player. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees

“There are certain at-bats where [pitchers] are challenging me, and they’ll get me out challenging me,” Bichette said. “Then the next at-bat, they won’t. There’s no really rhyme or reason to what they’re doing right now. Teams have tried to go in, then they’ve tried to go away, they’ve tried to throw breaking balls. I’m just seeing the ball pretty well right now.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees

Ahead of Thursday’s matchup, Bichette set a franchise record with 18 hits in his first 10 career games, and his 1.254 OPS was the highest in Blue Jays history through any player’s first 10 contests. He also joined Pete Alonso as the only players in MLB history to record 11 extra-base hits in their first 10 games. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees

Bichette’s home run came two batters after Derek Fisher hit his second long ball in a Blue Jays uniform, and third of the season. Sandwiched between the homers was a double from catcher Reese McGuire, whose four hits surpassed his total through his first six games this season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees

“He was taking the outside pitch and going the other way with it,” Montoyo said of McGuire. “He wasn’t pulling it. I told him, 'You can’t take four hits for granted,' because that’s not easy to do, four hits. That was good to see.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees

McGuire added a home run of his own, his second of the season, in the eighth frame, coming a triple shy of the cycle. He became the 19th catcher in Blue Jays history with a four-hit game and the first since Josh Thole on Sept. 25, 2013. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees

“It’s refreshing,” McGuire said. “It’s something you want to be able to do, contribute on the offensive side, too, especially being in the nine-hole. I want to roll that order over to Bichette, Vladdy [Guerrero Jr.] and [Cavan] Biggio at the top of the order, because those guys are right there.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees

In the second game of the four game series on Friday night however, New York who is leading the American League East had a setback.

-- J.A. Happ winced when a reviewed play at third base went in the home team’s favor, and DJ LeMahieu showed a pained expression when he lost a foul popup in the twilight. Then Danny Jansen really hurt the Yankees, belting a three-run homer that helped propel the Blue Jays to an 8-2 victory on Friday at Rogers Centre. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-winning-streak-ends-at-nine-games

Jansen’s fourth-inning blast was the third of the evening off Happ, as Randal Grichuk and Teoscar Hernandez also slugged long balls to snap the Yankees’ winning streak at nine games. A force down the stretch last year, Happ’s first full season with the Bombers has been marked by his inconsistency; the left-hander has pitched to a 6.89 ERA over his last 10 starts. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-winning-streak-ends-at-nine-games

“Right now it seems like if it can go wrong, it will,” Happ said. “It's frustrating. I'm certainly not feeling sorry for myself, I've got to find a way out of it. I felt like I made a pitch to get out of that fourth, and it didn't happen. Then I didn't make a pitch, and we got hurt there. Every out is huge, and I just wasn't able to close it down.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-winning-streak-ends-at-nine-games

Happ was attempting to pin the Blue Jays’ advantage at two runs in that frame, believing that the inning was over when catcher Austin Romine pounced on a pitch that bounced, pegging a strong throw to third baseman Gio Urshela. Toronto's Brandon Drury was initially called out, but review overturned the call, as Drury had avoided Urshela’s tag with a nifty swim move. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-winning-streak-ends-at-nine-games

After walking Derek Fisher, Happ again thought he had escaped when Jansen lifted a ball toward the first-base side, but the normally surehanded LeMahieu was unable to track its path. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-winning-streak-ends-at-nine-games

"999 times out of 1,000, we're out of there, but it happened to not be," Happ said. "It's on me to execute and find a way to get out of that inning. I've got to follow that up with another good pitch, and I didn't do that." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-winning-streak-ends-at-nine-games

Jansen parked Happ’s 2-2 offering into the seats in left-center for his 10th homer, building a Toronto advantage that held up for winning pitcher Sean Reid-Foley and four relievers. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-winning-streak-ends-at-nine-games

Again, it's just not having that margin for error," manager Aaron Boone said. "I thought [Happ] competed well. I thought his stuff was OK. The mistakes that turned into home runs really hurt him." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-winning-streak-ends-at-nine-games

The contest included fireworks of another brand in the top of the fourth, when Brett Gardner was ejected by home-plate umpire Chris Segal. The dugout had chirped on a third strike to Cameron Maybin, as well as a called strike on Mike Tauchman, and Segal appeared to believe that Gardner was the guilty party. Replays showed that Gardner had not said a word. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-winning-streak-ends-at-nine-games

"It’s all on video," Gardner said. "A couple of minutes prior, I was hitting my bat on the top of the dugout. The last time I checked, that wasn’t against the rules. It's just super frustrating. Just when you think you’ve seen it all." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-winning-streak-ends-at-nine-games

After the Gardner ejection, Tauchman broke up the shutout bid with a solo blast off Reid-Foley, who held New York to a run and five hits over five innings. It was Tauchman’s fifth homer in as many games, and his 12th of the season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-winning-streak-ends-at-nine-games

Mike Ford trimmed the deficit in the seventh with his third big-league homer, a solo shot off Tim Mayza, but Hernandez slugged a two-run blast in the eighth off Tommy Kahnle to close the scoring.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-winning-streak-ends-at-nine-games

Since the Yankees were unable to add a starting pitcher at the Trade Deadline and there are no guarantees regarding Luis Severino's envisioned return to the active roster, getting Happ on track has to be a top priority for pitching coach Larry Rothschild over the final weeks of the season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-winning-streak-ends-at-nine-games

Happ was 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA in 11 starts after being acquired from the Blue Jays last July, and the Yankees would love to unlock that version of the veteran.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-winning-streak-ends-at-nine-games

"I feel healthy. I feel like my stuff is the same," Happ said. "I feel like I've been a pitcher who has had success. I feel like I can still do that. I'm getting bit right now with everything, it feels like, so I've just got to find a way to dig out of there and get out of those innings in big situation. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-winning-streak-ends-at-nine-games

While Toronto meanwhile evened up the series on Friday night.

It was almost exactly a year ago that Sean Reid-Foley and Danny Jansen earned promotions to the Majors for the first time together, and formed the first American League battery to debut in the same game since 1967. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-hit-four-homers-in-win-over-yankees

In the 361 days before Toronto’s 8-2 win over the Yankees on Friday, Reid-Foley had gotten into 13 big league matchups, starting 11 of them and posting a 4.09 ERA over 55 innings with 35 walks and 60 strikeouts. In the same span, Jansen slashed .214/.292/.370 with 12 homers, 18 doubles, one triple and 43 RBIs in 118 games. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-hit-four-homers-in-win-over-yankees

On Friday, in the second game of the four-game series against the American League East leaders at Rogers Centre, the duo played pivotal parts in the win for the Blue Jays, which snapped a streak of nine straight victories for the Yankees, and added to the learning experience they’ve both had in their time with Toronto. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-hit-four-homers-in-win-over-yankees

“With Sean, it’s just learning himself and keeping the composure,” Jansen said. “You’re going to get hit around a little bit, and it’s how you come back from that. I know in Baltimore, his last start, it didn’t go as he wanted it to, but he came back and threw a pretty good game today, so just learning himself. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-hit-four-homers-in-win-over-yankees

“And for me, I’ve learned to have a routine and not let it change how you’re doing. Earlier, when I was doing very poorly, I had the routine and I trusted it and I kept doing it and kept doing my work, and that’s what you have to do.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-hit-four-homers-in-win-over-yankees

Reid-Foley battled through five innings, the 23-year-old right-hander allowing one run on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 2.36. He significantly upped the usage of his softer stuff, throwing 17 changeups and three curveballs to go with his 38 fastballs and 37 sliders, according to Statcast. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-hit-four-homers-in-win-over-yankees

“We sprinkled in some curveballs, used a lot of sliders, and we used heaters up in the zone as part of our game plan and what we wanted to do,” Jansen said. “We even used probably more changeups than we thought we would, to righties and lefties, and he battled. … The changeup was key tonight.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-hit-four-homers-in-win-over-yankees

Reid-Foley used that key to success against the Yankees more than in any game that preceded Friday’s win, entering the contest using the pitch an average of 7.3 percent of the time in his career. But it worked, and the mutual trust he and his catcher had in the changeup was the reason. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-hit-four-homers-in-win-over-yankees

“It comes and goes,” he said. “Some days you’re on, and some days you’re just trying to search for it. Today was a day that I had the majority of my stuff working, and Jano just ran with it. He knew I had the utmost confidence in throwing certain pitches in certain situations, and I always have the utmost confidence in [my catchers] back there.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-hit-four-homers-in-win-over-yankees

Jansen -- who’s been behind the dish for all but four of Reid-Foley’s 14 appearances in the Majors -- helped pad an early lead with a three-run home run in the fourth inning that provided all the cushion the Blue Jays would need. It was the 24-year-old catcher’s 10th long ball of the season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-hit-four-homers-in-win-over-yankees

“[This win means] a lot,” Jansen said. “They’re the best team in the division, they’re a tremendous organization, they’re a good team. And coming off that [7-3] road trip and having the young core here, the young guys playing and beating the Yankees like that, it’s extra confidence that we can take. We know how to play. We’re with the best of them, so it’s big. It’s huge.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-hit-four-homers-in-win-over-yankees

Two years and one day before Reid-Foley and Jansen debuted, centre fielder Teoscar Hernández reached the Majors for the first time, matching up against the Blue Jays in an Astros uniform. On Friday, almost three years to the day, he put an exclamation point on Toronto’s win with the sixth multihomer game of his career. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-hit-four-homers-in-win-over-yankees

“Playing time has made a big difference,” Hernandez said. “As much as you can play in the big leagues, you get to know the league, obviously. That’s helping me a lot here, especially with the older guys who were here before, and now we have Freddy [Galvis] and [Justin Smoak] still with the team, so I try to take advantage of that and learn as much as I can from them. It’s helped me.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-hit-four-homers-in-win-over-yankees

The 26-year-old outfielder led off the bottom of the second with a solo bomb to centre, and launched his 17th of the season to the same part of the field in the eighth, a two-run shot. Ahead of the long balls off the bats of Jansen and Hernandez, Randal Grichuk got the homer parade started in the opening frame, with his 20th, a two-run shot in the first. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-hit-four-homers-in-win-over-yankees

“This team is really fun, unbelievable,” Hernandez said. “Especially because it’s really young, and we have a lot of energy.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-hit-four-homers-in-win-over-yankees

First pitch is set for 3:07pm from Rogers Centre. The game will be televised on Yes, SNET and SNET-1.