Blue Jays series preview vs. New York Yankees

The Toronto Blue Jays finished off the first month of the 2017 season on a positive note. The Blue Jays are back on the road once again as they begin a three-game series against the New York Yankees.

The struggling Toronto Blue Jays and the up-and-coming New York Yankees meet for the first time this season at Yankee Stadium.

Toronto (8-17) is coming off their first series win, and winning consecutively for the first time this season. The Blue Jays have stumbled out of the gate and are finding ways to recover without Josh Donaldson or Troy Tulowitzki – both of whom are not expected to return this week, as they left Toronto for the team’s training facility in Dunedin, Flordia after yesterday’s victory.

New York (15-8) are surprisingly off to a good start. The Yankees are off to their best start since 2010 and the Bronx Bombers are 14-4 in their last 18 games. They are currently tied for first place with the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East.

What You Need To Know

TV: Sportsnet One

Radio: Sportsnet 590 The FAN

Probable Starters

Monday, May 1 7:05 p.m. ET

RHP Marco Estrada (01- 2.70 ERA) vs. Luis Severino (2-1 3.00 ERA)

Tuesday, May 2 7:05 p.m. ET

RHP Mat Latos (0-0 3.27 ERA) vs. RHP Masahiro Tanaka (3-1 4.20 ERA)

Wednesday, May 3 7:05 p.m. ET

RHP Marcus Stroman (2-2 2.97 ERA) vs. LHP CC Sabathia (2-1 4.34 ERA)

Marco Estrada will be making Monday night’s start on one day of extra rest after he was pushed back to make room for Aaron Sanchez. Estrada has allowed two runs or fewer in all but one of his five starts this season.

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Luis Severino is fresh off a seven scoreless inning, three-hit performance against the Boston Red Sox. Severino is 0-2 with 5.89 ERA in five appearances against Toronto. Fans might remember his last start against the Blue Jays on September 26, 2016. He was ejected for throwing at Justin Smoak after he plunked Donaldson.

Mat Latos earned another start after pitching six scoreless innings against the St. Louis Cardinals last week. Latos’ time in the rotation could be numbered with J.A. Happ recovering from his injury.

Masahiro Tanaka threw a shutout nine-inning game against the Red Sox last week. He will look to build off his best performance of the season on Tuesday night.

Marcus Stroman has allowed two runs or less in four of his five starts this season. He only has two wins and will look to earn his third victory- with the help of run support that is.

After a promising start to the season, CC Sabathia has struggled recently. The Orioles hammered Sabathia for seven runs and nine hits in 5.2 innings of work. He is 0-1 with a 9.28 ERA in his last two starts.

Players To Watch

There is only one player to keep your eye on for this series. It’s outfielder Aaron Judge.

Judge has four home runs and seven RBI in his last six games. The 25-year old is hitting .303 with 20 RBI, that’s six more than the Blue Jays’ top RBI producer, Kendrys Morales.

Keeping Judge at bay will be a priority for the Jays’ pitchers. The six-foot-seven, 280 pound right fielder is tied for the American League lead in home runs with 10 on the season.

Player Injuries

Toronto

3B Josh Donaldson (10-day DL strained right calf)

LHP J.A. Happ (10-day DL left elbow inflammation)

OF Dalton Pompey (60-day DL concussion)

RHP Bo Schultz (60-day DL torn right UCL- out for season)

RHP Glenn Sparkman (60-day DL fractured right thumb)

SS Troy Tulowitzki (10-day DL strained right hamstring)

New York

C Gary Sanchez (10-day D strained right bicep)

RF Tyler Austin (60-day DL fractured left ankle)

Toronto went 12-7 against New York las year, however, they have lost five of their last nine at Yankee Stadium.

Next: Blue Jays What ifs- Part 1: The R.A. Dickey Trade

The Blue Jays will look to build off their winning streak in the Bronx, with a day off on Thursday. They will head to St. Petersburg for another weekend series to against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.