The Bronx Bombers look to avoid getting swept in a three-game series North of the Border.
New York Yankees at Toronto Blue Jays
New York’s offensive struggles continued away from Yankee Stadium, as they average 4.5 runs per game on the road (15-14 O/U) compared to 6.7 at home (15-9 O/U). The team had built some offensive momentum over its last seven-game homestand, scoring 55 runs in taking six of seven games. The Yankees are still a solid 15-9 against the division and will look to improve upon its 13-9 daytime record in the series finale. In order for this to happen, 1B Mark Teixeira must bounce back from an 0-for-6 performance that dropped his average down to .215 on the season. He is hitting just .194 over his last 18 games. The fact the lines maker has made the Yankees a road favorite in this contest is a bet surprising, which offers value in playing against a team that’s only 5-6 as a road favorite of -125 to -150 this season (-290).
Yankees SP Javier Vazquez will make his 10th start of the season on Sunday versus the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The right-hander has compiled a 2-1 record and 1.50 ERA in five previous starts at the Rogers Centre, surrendering just six runs and holding the Jays to one earned run or less four times. He hasn’t been very successful on the road this season, posting a losing 2-4 record and 6.21 ERA in six starts. Vazquez must start limiting the free passes he issues away from Yankee Stadium, as he’s walked 16 batters in just 33.1 innings.
Toronto has a shot at sweeping New York for the first time since winning four in a row at Yankee Stadium from May 22-25, 2003. The Blue Jays haven’t swept a three-game set from the Yankees in Toronto since September 19-21, 2000. Jays 2B Aaron Hill singled home the winning run in Saturday’s 3-2 victory, saying after the game, “That was one of the bigger wins of the year.” OF Vernon Wells has also been instrumental in helping the offense of late, bringing in a 13-game hit streak that included a home run in yesterday’s contest off of Yankees hurler Andy Pettitte. Toronto brings in a 17-13 record at home this season and have gone 13-4 at home since April 29, outscoring opponents 105-55 in that span. Amazing enough in those 17 games, the Jays have out-homered opponents 38-6.
Blue Jays SP Brandon Morrow hopes to build off his last start, picking up a 3-2 home victory over the first-place Tampa Bay Rays. He managed to limit the Rays’ offense to just a single run and three hits over seven innings of work. The right-hander brings in a solid 4-1 record and 3.90 ERA in five starts at home this season, as the Blue Jays have won his last four starts at the Rogers Centre. Morrow is hoping that his last start is the building block for a successful June, as he managed to produce a 3.20 ERA in six appearances (four starts) during the month in ’09.
Bettors must factor in Vazquez’s weakness of surrendering the long ball, as the right-hander has given up 10 long balls in just 49 innings this season. The Blue Jays are also a dominating 28-17 against right-handed starters this season (+1,410). New York is no slouch against righties, toting a 23-12 mark in 2010 (+620).
