Yankees Line-up...
1. Brett Gardner (L) LF
2. Jacoby Ellsbury (L) CF
3. Gary Sanchez ® C
4. Didi Gregorius (L) SS
5. Mark Teixeira (S) 1B
6. Brian McCann (L) DH
7. Chase Headley (S) 3B
8. Mason Williams (L) RF
9. Ronald Torreyes ® 2B
On the bump... Michael Pineda RHP
The Yankees loved how Pineda and Gary Sanchez worked together in their last meeting, which included 11 strikeouts and two Rays runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings. Pineda hurled five scoreless innings vs. Toronto on Aug. 16.
Blue Jays Line-up...
1. Devon Travis ® 2B
2. Josh Donaldson ® 3B
3. Edwin Encarnacion ® 1B
4. Jose Bautista ® DH
5. Russell Martin ® C
6. Troy Tulowitzki ® SS
7. Michael Saunders (L) RF
8. Kevin Pillar ® CF
9. Ezequiel Carrera (L) LF
On the bump... Marco Estrada RHP
Estrada carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning of his last start. It was the fourth time in his career he managed to do that. The veteran righty has a 4.09 ERA in nine appearances vs. the Yanks.
Game Notes
Both the Blue Jays and Yankees continue to battle in the chase for an American League Wild Card spot as the two teams will play the third game of their four-game series on Sunday afternoon at Rogers Centre.
Toronto remains in possession of the top Wild Card spot, with a 1 1/2 game lead over second-place Baltimore and a two-game lead over Detroit. The Yankees still have Wild Card hopes, but they must jump over three teams, as they are sixth in the Wild Card chase for two spots, 4 1/2 games back of Baltimore.
While the Blue Jays came into the season with hopes of contending for a second consecutive AL East title and remain mathematically alive in chasing the Red Sox, Toronto manager John Gibbons said the team is focused on taking it one game at a time.
"The key is getting in one way or the other," Gibbons said. "Some Wild Card teams have done very, very well in the playoffs. But you've got to get there first, that's the key."
Toronto will hand the ball to right-hander Marco Estrada (9-9, 3.62 ERA ), who will be looking to build off one of his strongest outings of the season his last time out. In that start, Estrada went seven shutout innings and allowed just one hit in the Blue Jays' 3-2 win against the Mariners.
New York will counter with right-hander Michael Pineda (6-11, 4.89), who remains in search of his first victory this month. In his last outing against the Rays, Pineda went 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on five hits.
The Yankees continue to battle injuries as Chase Headley (back), Mark Teixeira (neck) and Starlin Castro (hamstring) have been dealing with various ailments.
"I mean, it's something you have to deal with," New York manager Joe Girardi said about the team's current injury troubles. "I've had to deal with it before. It's almost like the next guy has got to get it done, is the way you look at it. I know that we're dealing with it at this time of year, but you just do the best you can."
Things to know about this game
• Jose Bautista extended his on-base streak to a season-high 31 games with a double in the second inning on Saturday.
• While Castro is not expected to see the field during the series, Girardi did say he would talk to the training staff about potentially using the 26-year-old second baseman as a pinch-hitter.
• The Blue Jays have won seven of eight meetings with the Yankees in Canada this season.
• Toronto catcher Russell Martin and New York backstop Gary Sanchez both started at designated hitter for their respective clubs on Saturday and are expected to return to the field on Sunday.
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!!!!