GDT: 2/3 Toronto Blue Jays @ New York Yankees (1:05 et)

[Omar]

While Gerrit Cole is off to a dominant start due to exceptional command, Alek Manoah is struggling to find his mechanics.Cole hopes to maintain his impressive start Saturday afternoon when his New York Yankees oppose Manoah and the Toronto Blue Jays in the middle game of a three-game series at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees are trying to avoid their first series loss after Toronto recorded a 6-1 victory on Friday. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Brandon Belt later added a two-run homer and a two-run double.

Cole (4-0, 0.95 ERA) heads into Saturday as the first pitcher in team history to record at least 30 strikeouts with a sub-1.00 ERA through his first four outings since earned runs were first recorded in 1913. He notched 10 strikeouts on Sunday when he threw a 108-pitch two-hitter in a 2-0 home win over the Minnesota Twins for his 23rd double-digit strikeout game as a Yankee, tying Ron Guidry's team record.

Manoah (1-1, 6.98 ERA) has been tagged for 15 runs while allowing four homers and 15 walks in 19 1/3 innings. Last year while finishing third in the AL Cy Young Award race, Manoah served up 16 homers and issued 51 walks in 196 2/3 innings.

On Sunday, Manoah matched career worsts by allowing seven runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings.

 

Cole is 6-2 with a 3.75 ERA in 12 career starts against Toronto. He was 1-1 with a 5.00 ERA in three starts against them last season, including April 13, 2022, in New York, when he allowed two of Guerrero's three homers.

Manoah is 2-1 with a 2.31 ERA in six career starts against the Yankees and is opposing Cole for the first time, though the two pitchers share a history of verbal barbs stemming from an incident last Aug. 21 in New York.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 22, 2023 by Omar

[Omar]

Hopefully KK is out of the lineup because he is 4 for 23 against Cole instead of a nagging hip. He looked uncomfortable yesterday.

[G-Snarls]

Hopefully KK is out of the lineup because he is 4 for 23 against Cole instead of a nagging hip. He looked uncomfortable yesterday.

 

Wish granted

 

[Solaxys]

I really hope Alek brought his game today, cause otherwise, this is going to be a grand ol' time.

[Omar]

Wish granted

 

 

[Jonn]

Put up or shut up day for Manoah. He talked a lot of s*** about Cole and the Yankees this off-season. Time to deliver.

[gruber92]

This is probably our best line up. You also could have KK in CF and Merrifield at second and sit Espinal. Biggio can't start more than once a week.

[Stangstag]

Lets see if the Umpires can handle this one properly and not show some clear Yankees favoritism. (Potential hit batters/ejections and such)

[Omar]

[JaysAllMighty]

[Spanky99]

[Jonn]

I really don’t understand the decision to have Espinal start against an elite RH Starter. While also benching Kiermaier on his birthday lol.

[Spanky99]

LETS GO BLUE JAYS *CLAP, CLAP* *CLAP, CLAP, CLAP*

 

LETS GO BLUE JAYS *CLAP, CLAP* *CLAP, CLAP, CLAP*

 

LETS GO BLUE JAYS *CLAP, CLAP* *CLAP, CLAP, CLAP*

 

[Solaxys]

I really don’t understand the decision to have Espinal start against an elite RH Starter. While also benching Kiermaier on his birthday lol.

 

If last year was anything to go by, there's reasons like soreness that they don't mention publicly.

[Dylan]

Great start. Score at least Springer, please!

[DigitalRock]

Have to capitalize here

[Spanky99]

Great start here boys! Lets Go!!!

[JaysAllMighty]

Two hits right off the bat against Cole... beautiful

[Jonn]

Really felt Springer could score there. Would have tried considering Blue Jays immense struggles hitting with runners in scoring position.

[DigitalRock]

Defend the plate man

[Dylan]

Come on chappy.. got to defend

[el duque]

many empty seats at Yankees' stadium

[JaysAllMighty]

too close to take Chappy

[Omar]

Chappy..noo

[Solaxys]

Chappy back to his 2022 watch pitches go by shenanigans again

[John_Havok]

FFS, Chappy gone passive all of a sudden the last few games

[Jonn]

f***ing Rivera costing us runs again.

 

Brutal.

[DigitalRock]

What was Varsho doing holy crap

[LGBJ29]

Chappy and Varsho with back to back awful at bats my god

[Stottlemyres_Bloody_Chin]

Varsho not a good hitter