The Yankees just walked into Toronto and split the first two with a depleted lineup, which tells you most of what you need to know about the state of the AL East. New York is 42-27 and rolling. Toronto is 34-37 and still trying to figure out who it is. First pitch is 1:37 PM ET for the rubber match.
The pitching gap is the headline. Will Warren has quietly been one of the better arms in the league at 7-1 with a 3.41 ERA, and he's been even sharper on the road. Patrick Corbin is the opposite story — a 4.55 ERA that flatters him after he got knocked around for 5 earned in 3 innings against the Phillies last time out, with a brutal June so far. If the Yankees take the run line, the Corbin first inning is where it starts.
- Day-To-DayPayton Henry C — The Yankees signed Henry to a minor-league contract Monday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
- Day-To-DayEric Reyzelman SP — no
- Day-To-DayTravis MacGregor SP — MacGregor underwent Tommy John surgery last September and will miss the entire 2019 season, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILTrent Grisham CF — Grisham (hamstring) participated in "light on-field agility exercises" Saturday and is expected to undergo imaging in New York on Monday, per MLB.com.
- 10-Day-ILGiancarlo Stanton DH — Stanton tweaked his injured right calf while running the bases this week, and he may need to undergo more medical imaging, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILAustin Wells C — Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Friday that the team will wait until after the weekend series against the Blue Jays before deciding whether Wells (head) will be activated off the 10-day injured list or embark on a rehab assignment, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.
- 10-Day-ILAaron Judge RF — The Yankees announced Thursday that Judge has a stress fracture of his first rib on his right side and will be sidelined for 4-to-6 weeks before being re-evaluated, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILMax Fried SP — Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Friday that Fried (elbow) will throw off a mound Saturday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
- Day-To-DayVladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B — Guerrero isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees.
- Day-To-DayGeovanny Jesus Planchart C — no
- Day-To-DayChay Yeager RP — Yeager will undergo season-ending UCL surgery on his right elbow Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
- 10-Day-ILAddison Barger RF — The Blue Jays are hoping to send Barger (elbow) on a rehab assignment next week, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
- 10-Day-ILDaulton Varsho CF — The Blue Jays placed Varsho on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to June 10, with left wrist inflammation.
- 10-Day-ILLenyn Sosa 2B — Sosa went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, an additional run and an additional RBI on Saturday against the Twins in an 11-4 victory.
- developmental listFernando Perez P
- 60-Day-ILYimi Garcia RP — Garcia (elbow) will continue his rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday and is closing in on being reinstated from the 60-day injured list, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
The injury board is doing most of the work here. The Yankees are running this series without Aaron Judge (rib stress fracture, 4-6 weeks), Giancarlo Stanton, Trent Grisham, Austin Wells, and Max Fried — and they're still in first place pace and just took 2 of the first 3 vibes off this trip. Toronto, meanwhile, has Vladimir Guerrero Jr. day-to-day with lower back tightness that flared up Friday night and kept him out Saturday. If Vlad can't go, Charles McAdoo slides to first again and a thin Toronto lineup gets thinner against a guy who doesn't beat himself.
The recent-form picture is uglier for Toronto than the records suggest. The Jays just dropped 2 of 3 to the Phillies at home before this Yankees series, and now they're alternating wins and losses with a New York team that's missing its MVP. The schedule doesn't get cuter — Toronto needs this one to avoid a series loss inside the division, and they're sending a 4.55 ERA at the league's hottest road rotation.
The case for the Jays is the case for any home dog in a get-away matinee — Warren has yet to give them the long-look third time through, the Yankees' bullpen has been worked the last few days, and Toronto did already shellac New York for 8 in the opener. But that game was Schlittler-related variance. This one is a clean talent edge for the visitors, and an early start in front of a half-full dome is the kind of day where the Yankees just business-trip it home with the series.