Yankees Line-up...
1. Brett Gardner (L) LF
2. Jacoby Ellsbury (L) CF
3. Gary Sanchez ® C
4. Billy Butler ® DH
5. Chase Headley (S) 3B
6. Mark Teixeira (S) 1B
7. Didi Gregorius (L) SS
8. Aaron Hicks (S) RF
9. Ronald Torreyes ® 2B
On the bump... Luis Severino RHP
Luis Severino is expected to get the spot start on Monday in place of the injured Masahiro Tanaka. Severino has allowed just one run as a reliever in 15 September innings.
Blue Jays Line-up... J.A. Happ LHP
1. Devon Travis ® 2B
2. Josh Donaldson ® 3B
3. Edwin Encarnacion ® DH
4. Jose Bautista ® RF
5. Russell Martin ® C
6. Troy Tulowitzki ® SS
7. Michael Saunders (L) LF
8. Justin Smoak (S) 1B
9. Kevin Pillar ® CF
Happ became the sixth player in franchise history to earn 20 wins in a season during his last outing. With another victory, he would surpass David Wells for most wins by a Blue Jays lefty.
Game Notes
The Blue Jays and Yankees came into their four-game series with one common goal: Gain ground in a crowded postseason race.
Toronto will look to solidify its position in the Wild Card standings and send the Yankees one step closer to elimination on Monday.
The Blue Jays remain in sole possesion of the top Wild Card spot in the American League, with a 1 1/2-game edge over the Orioles. The Yankees are 5 1/2 games behind Baltimore with seven games to play, with three other teams in front of them.
"I think home field works for everybody," Toronto manager John Gibbons said about a potential Wild Card Game at Rogers Centre. "It's a different feeling here. That's the ideal setup."
The Yankees have struggled to generate offense in the series, getting shut out both Friday and Saturday before scoring three runs Sunday.
"You look at Toronto's pitching staff, and they're good," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "The bottom line is that they've pitched well all year. It's probably a combination of the bats and the pitching. We've seen some good pitching."
The Blue Jays will hand the ball to 20-game winner J.A. Happ. The veteran southpaw has thrown a career-high 181 1/3 innings entering Monday's start, and Happ is second on Toronto's staff with 19 quality starts.
The Yankees expect to start Luis Severino in Monday's game in place of the injured Masahiro Tanaka. Severino is 3-8 with a 5.70 ERA in 20 games, nine starts, for the Yankees this season.
Things to know about this game
• The Yankees received good news on the injury front as Chase Headley (back) and Mark Teixeira (neck) returned to the starting lineup on Sunday. Monday evening's game will be the final regular-season road contest of Teixeira's career.
• Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista extended his season-high on-base streak to 32 games with a walk in the first inning on Sunday.
• While it remains unlikely that Yankees second baseman Starlin Castro (hamstring) starts on Monday, Girardi said the 26-year-old might be available to pinch-hit.
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*
Bust Out Them Sticks Birds!!!!
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!!!
Likely didn't get a good break initially.