Game Thread – Toronto Blue Jays (17-25) at New York Yankees (26-16)

May 3, 2012; Anaheim, CA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Brandon Morrow (23) pitches in the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Morrow is finally back!

Morrow (1-2, 4.69 ERA) vs. David Phelps (1-2, 4.33 ERA)

Blue Jays fans last watched Morrow take the hill thirteen days ago in a dominating effort against the Seattle Mariners. In what may have been his best game as a starter, Morrow pitched eight strong innings allowing only three hits, two earned runs while striking out eight. That night he looked like what many fans in Toronto have always thought – potentially one of the best pitchers in all of baseball.

The elation was short-lived however as he missed his next start and since that time questions have swirled about when he will return to the mound. It was finally announced yesterday that Morrow would make his return today:

Last night the Blue Jays provided us with a relatively pathetic effort by mustering only four hits against the New York Yankees. Good thing we have Edwin Encarnacion and Melky Cabrera or we could have been reading about a no-hitter this morning for Hiroki Kuroda.

Phelps last pitched on Monday, allowing only four hits and a solo home run in 6 2/3 of work in a 1-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians. He has good but not dominating numbers this year with 8.2 H/9, 3.8 BB/9 and 9.7 SO/9, which is actually slightly better than Morrow who comes in at 9.4 H/9, 3.8 BB/9 and 7.6 SO/9.

Join us for LIVE updates every half inning from today’s game in New York on this Canadian holiday weekend.

And in case you missed it, make sure to check out the podcast debut of fellow Jays Journal staff writer Travis Bateman who drops dimes with Ricky Keeler from Yanks Go Yard in the Blue Jays vs. Yankees series preview.

LISTEN HERE

News and Notes:

Mariano Rivera already has sixteen saves in 2013… Blue Jays enter today 9 games behind division leading Yankees… Toronto is 6-4 last 10, New York is 7-3… Injury report is a short novel but includes Jose Reyes, J.A. Happ, Rajai Davis, Josh Johnson, Dustin McGowan, Sergio Santos, Kevin Youkilis, Andy Pettitte, Ivan Nova, Derek Jeter, Michael Pineda, Joba Chamberlain and Mark Teixeira.

Toronto Blue Jays starting lineup:

New York Yankees starting lineup:

Gardner 8
Cano 4
Wells 7
Hafner 0
Overbay 3
Granderson 9
Nix 6
Adams 5
Romine 2

Phelps 1