Blue Jays vs Yankees Series Preview: Can The Yankees Still Make The Playoffs?

The New York Yankees aren’t eliminated from the postseason yet. But they’ll need a miracle.

The Yankees will host the Toronto Blue Jays in an AL East series to start the week. New York is 76-74, but they’re still 6.5 games out of the final spot in the AL Wild Card.

However, the Blue Jays are one of four MLB teams ahead of them. A sweep would only enhance their limited chance of making the playoffs.

As the AL Wild Card stands now, the Rays, Blue Jays, and Rangers would win the three spots. That would leave the Mariners and Yankees on the outside looking in.

Can New York make things interesting down the stretch?

Here’s the Blue Jays vs Yankees series preview for this exciting AL East series.

Will Frankie Montas Return Before the Season Ends?

The Yankees likely won’t make the postseason. But they might get at least one start from all-star pitcher Frankie Montas before the season concludes.

The Yankees traded for Montas during last season’s MLB Trade Deadline. However, he hasn’t pitched a single inning for the Yankees this year. The Yankees wanted him because of his control beyond just the 2022 MLB season.

Montas underwent shoulder surgery in February and was declared out for the season. However, he pitched a rehab assignment in Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He threw one inning, giving up one run and striking out two. Montas also walked a batter.

When the Yankees acquired him last season, Montas went 1-3 with a 6.35 ERA in 39.2 innings for the Yankees. However, throughout his career, he’s gone 36-35 with a 3.90 ERA. He even finished sixth in the AL Cy Young voting in 2021.

It’s unclear if the Yankees will give him a start or two before the season concludes. But that would be a very welcoming development for New York. The starting rotation didn’t perform at a high level this year. Knowing he’ll be healthy and back next year would be a massive boost for the Yankees.

Toronto Added a 3-Game Sweep Over the Weekend

The Blue Jays are trying to hang on in the AL Wild Card. The Rays and Orioles are fighting for the AL East. Whoever loses that battle will likely earn the first AL Wild Card.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays, Rangers, and Mariners are all within a couple of games from each other. Only two of those three teams can make the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Yankees are still in the face but are unlikely to get an AL Wild Card spot.

Toronto earned a three-game sweep over the Red Sox, who were also in the race until the last couple weeks. The Red Sox now have a 74-76 record and are below the Yankees by two games in the AL race.

The Blue Jays allowed just five runs in three games against the Red Sox. The pitching was sensational, and the hitting has been outstanding. But the momentum can’t stop there.

To complete the sweep, Matt Chapman hit the walk-off. Chapman had been on the injured list from August 27 to September 14. However, Chapman delivered to finish off the series against the Red Sox. His return is another reason why the Blue Jays should stick around in the AL Wild Card race to finish out the regular season.

He makes baseball games more enjoyable. Chapman has hit 15 home runs and is a terrific third-base fielder. He’s also a veteran leader and has shown leadership in the locker room.

Let’s look at the Blue Jays vs Yankees series preview and probable pitchers for the series.

Early Odds:RL New York -1.5 (+160), ML New York -115, O/U 8.5 -115/-105

It’ll be Yusei Kikuchi on the mound for the Blue Jays to start Game 1 of the Blue Jays vs Yankees series preview. Kikuchi is a left-handed pitcher who has struck out 27.7% of batters in the last month. He’s kept walks down but has still allowed an ISO of .157 and wOBA of .333 to his previous 112 batters. Most of the damage is coming from right-handed batters.

Kikuchi typically faces lineups with righties because he’s a left-handed pitcher.

Kikuchi will face Clarke Schmidt of the Yankees. The right-hander has struck out nearly 24% of batters while holding teams to a .126 ISO and wOBA of .301 over the last month. Schmidt has struggled a bit against lefties, but the Blue Jays don’t have many lefties that have hit righties at a solid rate.

The Blue Jays’ projected lineup has only hit a .170 ISO and wOBA of .284 against righties over the last 30 days. They don’t strike out at a very high rate. But only George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Davis Schneider, and Kevin Kiermaier have been hot against righties over the last 30 days. Kiermaier is the only lefty doing the damage in this lineup.

Meanwhile, the Yankees have five batters hitting an above-average ISO and wOBA against lefties over the last 30 days. DJ LeMahieu, Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres, Giancarlo Stanton, and Oswaldo Cabrera have hit a .250 ISO and wOBA of at least .378 against lefties.

The Yankees are currently a -115 favorite, with the Blue Jays at -105. The total is now 8.5, with the Over juiced to -115. The Yankees matchup is better in this game. Back the Yankees.

Kevin Gausman will get Game 2 of the series. Gausman is considered the ace of the staff. However, he’s allowed a .228 ISO and wOBA of .383 to his last 65 lefties. The Yankees don’t have many powerful lefties. Therefore, Gausman will likely be fine. He’s held righties to a .137 ISO and wOBA of .272 over the last 30 days.

Gausman has also been very good at keeping fly balls down. However, walks have risen over the last 30 days. He’s walked 10.5% of batters in the previous month.

The Yankees have only hit a .136 ISO and wOBA of .292 against righties over the last 30 days. They’ve also struck out 26.2% of the time against righties. Our MLB predictions is that It won’t be a fun night for the Yankees’ offense in this game.

Gausman will face Michael King of the Yankees. He’s a righty who has thrown nearly 34% of strikeouts over the last month. King has been elite for the Yankees. In the previous month, he’s held teams to a .083 ISO and wOBA of .270 while only walking 5.4% of batters.

King doesn’t always get many ground balls. But his strikeout rate is high, and he has limited hard contact. He earns plenty of whiffs.

In the finale, Jose Berrios will man the mound. The right-handed pitcher has struck out over 24% of batters. However, lefties have hit a .253 ISO and wOBA of .322 against him over the last month. Berrios has dominated against righties, but he’s allowed way more fly balls than ground balls induced to lefties over the previous month.

Berrios will go up against Gerrit Cole, who is still fighting for the AL Cy Young Award. A couple more great starts, and he might lock it up.

Cole has struck out over 29% of batters in the last 30 days. He’s also held teams to a .132 ISO and wOBA of .272. He’s struggled a bit against righties in the previous month. But teams aren’t scoring high baseball scores against Cole this season.

We like the Yankees to sneak by in this game. But the Under would also be appealing in this one.

For MLB betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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