The Yankees open this three-game series against the Blue Jays with just a game lead in the AL East division.
Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees
Toronto dropped its final two games of a series against Cleveland over the weekend and now turn their focus to the Yankees, Rays and Red Sox in the next three series. The Blue Jays are 3-3 against the Yankees this season, as the teams have 12 more meetings in 2010. The club is 12-0 against the Baltimore Orioles this season, but are 8-16 against the rest of the American League East division. “We’re going to go through some tough times with it,” said manager Cito Gaston of the AL East. “People talk about being the West or being in the Central, but you’ve still got to pass through the East to get where you need to go.” The Blue Jays are 83-97 against the division over the last three years (-1,370) and the total is 81-94 O/U in those meetings.
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Los Angeles looks to avoid being swept in this three-game weekend series, after dropping a 2-1 contest on Saturday night to the Giants at AT&T Park. The loss was the Dodgers’ fourth straight, leaving them seven games behind first-place San Diego and 5.5 games back of today’s opponent in the NL Wild Card race. “All we’re doing is digging ourselves a deeper hole that we’re going to have to come back out of if we expect to do anything,” manager Joe Torre said. The team was shorthanded on Saturday due to the trade of Blake Dewitt, Andre Ethier going home to see the birth of his second child and Manny Ramirez still on the disabled list. Los Angeles is 9-7 when playing on Sunday this year (+70) and 37-33 on this day the past three seasons (-160). The club is still 26-15 at tonight’s venue since the 2006 season and have a solid 25-12 record against the division (+1,320).
Philadelphia has dropped the two opening games of this series and have produced a 7-20 mark on the road since May 30. Before this series, the Phillies were an impressive 15-6 in the nation’s capital since the start of the 2008 season. Closer Brad Lidge blew the save in Saturday’s 7-5 loss and is now 1-1 with a 5.57 ERA and 10 saves in 14 opportunities this season. “He’s our guy,” Manuel said. “We’ve been working with him now for two years.” The club dropped to 12-14 when facing left-handed starters this season (-790) and the total is 11-15 O/U in those contests. In 2009, the Phillies went 29-16 (.644) in games started by opposing southpaws, which was the best winning percentage among all NL teams. Philadelphia has now dropped its last five road series, with its last such win coming on June 15-17 in New York (AL). The club is 32-24 in August the last three years (-200).
New York pushed its divisional lead to two games with Saturday’s 5-4 road victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field. Both games in the series have been decided by a single run, with Tampa winning 3-2 on Friday night. “It feels like a playoff,” said second baseman Robinson Cano. “The fans get excited when they get an out and they’re in every pitch.” Newly acquired Lance Berkman went 0-for-4 in his debut with the Bronx Bombers, as he got his first taste of a pennant race this year. “It was definitely sore of a playoff-type atmosphere,” said Berkman. The Yankees own the best record in baseball at 66-37 (+760) and the total is 52-47 O/U in all games. The lines maker has placed them as a road favorite of -125 to -150 this afternoon, with the team tallying a 10-6 record in that situation in 2010 (+210) and compiling a 31-28 mark the last three years (-720).
Detroit fell 5-4 in the second game of a three-game set in Boston, as the team is now 11-9 versus the AL East division this season. The Tigers were unable to hold a 4-0 lead that was created with the help of first baseman Miguel Cabrera’s 26th home run of the year. The bullpen came into Saturday’s contest with a 20-11 record and 3.57 ERA through the club’s first 102 games. With yesterday’s loss, the team is now 24-19 in day games (+330) with the total being 17-23 O/U in those contests. Detroit is 10-7 when playing on Sunday during the current campaign (+290) and 39-30 over the last three seasons (+470). In those games, the offense has produced 4.5 runs per game and hit for a combined .270 mark, which is just a point lower than the team’s season average (.271).
Atlanta continues to lead the NL East division, but its lead has been cut due to losing five of eight games on its current road trip. The Braves did make a couple moves at the trade deadline, picking up outfielder Rick Ankiel and relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth from Kansas City. “Ankiel’s a tremendous outfielder, a great athlete,” Chipper Jones said. “Hopefully he helps solidify things out there.” The club is still a tremendous 18-9 against the NL Central, which is their best winning percentage against any division this season. Atlanta is also 20-15 in day games this season (+380) and the total is 19-16 O/U in those contests. The team is averaging 4.0 runs per game under the sun and hitting for a combined .256 average, while opponents are scoring 3.8 and batting .236. Atlanta has gone 26-31 in August the last three years (-820).
Florida took game one of this three-game series against the first-place Padres, 4-2, at Petco Park. The club had dropped five of its first six games against San Diego this season, but they have won 10 of 13 at today’s venue. Since going 2-7 against the Friars in 2000, the Fish have tallied a winning 32-29 mark against them. It marked the 12th win in their last 18 games, as they continue a seven-game road trip (3-2) tonight. The Marlins are 32-39 against right-handed starters (-630) compared to 20-12 versus lefties this season. On the season, Florida has gone 15-18 versus NL West clubs and have gone 205-318 against Western foes in their 18 years in the league. Playing on Saturdays has been a bit problematic for the young club, posting a 6-11 record this season (-690), but they are 34-32 over the last three years.
New York has acquired Astros first baseman Lance Berkman for the playoff push, but it’s unclear if he will be available for tonight’s contest. “That’s great,” said first baseman Mark Teixeira. “It’s going to be good for the clubhouse.” The Yankees may have started feeling the pressure of the race, as tonight’s opponent is just a game behind them. The club still owns the best record in baseball, but dropped to 31-21 on the road this season with least night’s loss (+210). New York has been a road underdog of +100 to +125 just seven times this season (+180), with the total being 4-3 O/U in those games. The Bronx Bombers are an even 8-8 when playing on Saturdays (-520), while sporting a healthy 22-13 mark against the division (+440). The Yankees are 4-5 versus the Rays this season, but have won 26 of the last 43 meetings.
Los Angeles has fallen 4.5 games back in the NL Wild Card race after last night’s 6-5 road defeat against the Giants at AT&T Park. “I don’t know if we were playing a little soft earlier, but tonight I liked the way we fought back,” said catcher Russell Martin. The club is 5-10 since the All-Star break and has managed to score just 35 runs in that span. Don’t expect things to improve offensively this afternoon, as the Dodgers are averaging just 3.3 runs and hitting for a combined average during the day, leading to a 13-14 daytime record (-290). Outfielder Matt Kemp is the only Dodger with a batting average over .290 in the second half of the season. The Dodgers are not only 4.5 games behind the second-place Giants in the division, they are now seven games out of first place. The starting rotation has done its best to give the club an opportunity to win, posting a 1.54 ERA over the last 13 games, which is the lowest mark in Major League Baseball. Los Angeles is 14-18 against southpaw starters (-930) this season and the total is 17-15 O/U in those contests.
