Friday, April 4, 7:07 PM on YES, RSN

Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario

New York - (R) Tanaka, M (0-0) vs. Toronto - (R) McGowan, D (0-0)

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Masahiro Tanaka will make his first Major League start for the New York Yankees on Friday night in a game against Dustin McGowan and the Toronto Blue Jays. McGowan will be making his first start since 2011. The Yankees gave Masahiro Tanaka a seven year, $155 million contract this past offseason in hopes that he can replicate what he did in Japan. Tanaka went a perfect 24-0 for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2013 with a 1.27 ERA and 183 strikeouts in 212 innings. He may not put up those types of numbers in the majors, but he is still expected to be a top pitcher for the Yankees this year.

Tanaka will have the advantage against the Blue Jays lineup because no one has any Major League tape of him yet. They will have to get a good feel for him quickly if they want to have any success against him considering that he has a 97 mph fastball and a bunch of solid secondary pitches.

The Blue Jays decided to give Dustin McGowan another chance as a starter after a solid year as a reliever in 2013. He notched just 25 innings last year , but was able to post a 2.45 ERA with 26 strikeouts.

Derek Jeter has faced McGowan 28 times in his career so far and has done quite well, hitting .348/.464/.391 with a double, two walks and seven strikeouts. Brian Roberts has also done well against him, getting six hits in 13 at-bats.

New York Betting Trends

New York is 0-2-0 against the Over/Under

Run differential for New York is -3.0

Toronto Betting Trends

Toronto is 1-2-0 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Toronto is -0.7

Injuries to Watch

New York 

04/01/14 SS Brendan Ryan Back 15-day DL (3/22)

Toronto 

04/01/14 SS Jose Reyes Hamstring 15-day DL (3/30)
03/31/14 P Casey Janssen Back 15-day DL (3/29)
03/27/14 P J.A. Happ Back 15-day DL (3/26)

Tony's Pick: Take New York

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