MLB playoffs are just around the corner and the Blue Jays begin their final homestand of the regular season tonight. They return home with a record of 86-67 after going 3-3 in Philadelphia and Tampa Bay.
Toronto still holds the top wild card spot by two games over the Rays and 2.5 over the Mariners.
Most of the second half of the season has been disappointing for the Yankees but they are heating up at the right time. They have won seven in a row and extended their lead in the American League East to 8.5 games.
All eyes will be on Aaron Judge as he looks to break Roger Maris’ Yankee record of 61 home runs. Stuck on 60, Judge has been homerless for the last five games.
The Yankees lead the season series over the Blue Jays 9-7. These will be the final three games between them until a potential meeting in the divisional round.
Things Worth Mentioning…
The Jays are still without Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Santiago Espinal.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr (hamstring) is with Blue Jays in Toronto. He’s doing some hitting / throwing and advancing through a running progression.
Santiago Espinal (oblique) is doing some light baseball activity, hitting off a tee.
Gurriel’s closer to a return to games than Espinal
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) September 26, 2022
Gurriel has been out since September 9th with a hamstring strain. Espinal has been out since the 22nd with an oblique strain.
Maple Leafs’ sniper Auston Matthews will throw out the first pitch at tonight’s game.
Auston Matthews of the Leafs will throw out the first pitch at tomorrow's #BlueJays game
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) September 26, 2022
Matthews set the goal record for the Toronto Maple Leafs with 60 last season.
Roger Maris tied Babe Ruth’s home run record on this day 61 years ago.
61 Years Ago Today: New York #Yankees slugger Roger Maris ties Babe Ruth with his 60th HR of the season vs. the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium! Classic call by Mel Allen! (September 26, 1961) #MLB #History pic.twitter.com/ZaUNG9iZ5J
— Baseball by BSmile (@BSmile) September 26, 2022
The stars seem to be aligning for Judge to tie Maris tonight. It would be pretty cool for him to hit number 61 exactly 61 years after Maris tied Ruth.
The head-to-head…
Kevin Gausman vs. Luis Severino
Gausman: 12-10, 3.32 ERA, 194 Ks
Severino: 6-3, 3.36 ERA, 101 ks
Jose Berrios vs. Jameson Taillon
Berrios: 11-6, 5.27 ERA, 137 Ks
Taillon: 13-5, 3.90 ERA, 140 ks
TBD vs. Gerrit Cole
Cole: 12-7, 3.49 ERA, 244 Ks