Yankees vs Blue Jays Preview: Strong Arms Meet Firepower

The Yankees grabbed a huge victory yesterday. They lost the first game 5-8, but they're riding a 4-game winning streak right now. Their record sits at 41-26. Toronto's bats exploded in that first game with doubles and home runs lighting up the scoreboard. But New York didn't fold. The Yankees showed toughness. Grisham crushed a single in the sixth inning that scored two runs. That's the kind of energy they're bringing back to Rogers Centre today. You can feel the momentum shifting.

Kevin Gausman is Toronto's star pitcher. He's a two-time All-Star who was drafted fourth overall back in 2012. This season he's got a 4.09 ERA with 16 strikeouts. His WHIP is 0.55, which is excellent. For the Yankees, Cam Schlittler gets the start. He's young and impressed scouts in last year's postseason. This is his chance to show New York he belongs in a major league rotation. Gausman has tons of big-game experience. Schlittler has everything to prove. That's a mismatch on paper, but baseball doesn't always go by the script.

Aaron Judge won't play today. The Yankees star has a stress fracture in his right rib. He's looking at 4-6 weeks of recovery, and the team won't rush him back. Judge hasn't played since May 31st. That's a massive hit to New York's offense. Players like Jose Caballero and Max Schuemann have been covering right field. Toronto's pitchers will notice Judge's absence. You lose that kind of power threat, and teams start attacking the rest of the lineup differently. The Yankees are still winning, but Judge's return date in late July can't come soon enough for their fans.