Game Thread: Blue Jays (9-13) @ Yankees (11-9)

Apr 20, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Mark Buehrle (56) during the game against the New York Yankees at the Rogers Centre. The Yankees beat the Blue Jays, 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Tonight on Jays Journal (I feel like I’m announcing a 60 Minutes special) we are very happy to be continuing our live game thread. The Toronto Blue Jays wrap up their week-long road trip with a visit to Yankee Stadium to face-off against the New York Yankees. Our series opening live game thread will be hosted by none other than yours truly. Sorry you guys are so unlucky… it’s just been that type of season so far for Blue Jays fans.

After a breathtaking finish to last night’s game, the Jays look to have their hands full again this evening. As a nationally-televised event on MLB Network there should be lots of eyes on tonight’s matchup in the Bronx. But Toronto-area fans will need to be weary that the Maple Leafs game in Florida has taken precedent on our main channel. Obviously there are still other ways to watch but don’t say I didn’t warn you when you turn on your TV at 7PM/EST. If you can’t for some reason find the game, make sure to check out this page as I will be providing an update every half inning and interacting with readers in the comments. If you follow me on Twitter you know I love chatting with other Blue Jays fans so I can’t wait to hopefully meet some new faces tonight!

I want to start this session off with a question that’s recently been up for debate. Who should John Gibbons use as the Blue Jays lead-off hitter until Jose Reyes returns?

I’m not going to give you my opinion yet but I want to see what you guys come up with!

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Mark Buehrle (1-0) vs. Hiroki Kuroda (2-1) SNET-1/MLBN/SN590

This game feels like deja vu from last Saturday afternoon. When I started writing this piece and began breaking down the matchup, I had to ask myself “is this April really cursed for the Jays?” I am seriously beginning to wonder. Kuroda dominated the blue birds just five days ago and now they must face him again on his very next start, this time at home. C’mon man can’t the Jays get a break already?

Kuroda has come out of the gate dealing, already throwing a complete game and showing off a slick 2.35 ERA with an even 1.00 WHIP to start the season. He didn’t get the win last time around thanks to the Yankees awful bullpen but held the Blue Jays to three hits and only one run while striking out seven. Toronto fans can only hope Kuroda is due for an off-day based on the fact he has thrown a combined 222 pitches in his last two starts, which is a ton of work this early in the season. But like so many other pitchers he’s showing serious game while approaching 40 (I’m sure Bill Simmons is firing up the steroid debate somewhere…)

Buehrle on the other hand has been atrocious to start the season. To give him some credit, he has managed to get back on track a bit with two consecutive quality starts but Jays fans are right to expect more from the veteran lefty. He matched Kuroda with seven strikeouts last Saturday and pitched well allowing only 3 runs (2 earned). The Blue Jays’ offence saved him from a loss, coming back to crush the Yankees ‘pen in the eighth to give Mark the fortunate no-decision. His ERA at the moment is 5.87 so lets hope he can continue bringing it back down tonight. And please, please no more Aaron Loup. Aaron Laffey is now part of the active roster so hopefully he can take over handling lefties for the time being.

News & Notes:

Don’t be surprised if Aaron Laffey sees his first action of the season tonight… No official word on whether Adam Lind will be back in the lineup after missing yesterday’s game to celebrate the birth of his child… Yesterday’s day game in Baltimore drew only 14,981 fans (32.6% capacity)… Toronto is tied for third most GIDP in the AL so far…Buehrle has pitched at least 200 innings each of the past 12 seasons… Only the Mariners, Astros, Padres and Marlins have worse run differentials than the Blue Jays at -29…

As I write this starting lineups have not yet been announced but promise an update this afternoon. Stay tuned!