Blue Jays Series Preview: Can Jays continue run of success against AL East?

Across the Diamond: New York Yankees

The Yankees offensive struggles continued this week, as they posted a weak 86 wRC+ against the Jays and Rays. They managed to take of two of three from the Rays, but two of those victories saw the Rays offence score one run as the Yankee pitching staff carried them to victory.

I explained the importance of getting ahead early in last week’s series preview against the Jays, and in the games they won, they had leads heading into the late innings. The Yankees trio of Andrew Miller, Dellin Betances, and Aroldis Chapman is ridiculous. If you get to them behind in the game it’s going to be nearly impossible to come back.

The Yankees’ offence is providing little to no resistance for opposing starting pitching. The only hitters doing anything productive on a consistent basis lately have been Carlos Beltran and Jacoby Ellsbury.

Neither of them are the players they once were, but Ellsbury grinds through at bats, still has very good speed, and employs good bat to ball skills and plate discipline. The 32-year-old is now hitting .287 with a .348 on-base percentage.

Beltran has 12 HR’s on the year as his power has received a large spike this year. His .537 SLG and .274 ISO are likely to regress to his 2015 totals of .471 and .195, but there’s no questioning he’s on a roll lately and provides one of the few challenges on the Yankees.

The rest of the lineup is full of struggling youngsters and declining veterans who are having a hard time putting together any level of production that resembles their former selves.

Now on to the pitching matchups…

Next: Nova offers great matchup for Jays hitters