Friday, September 19, 2014

Yankee Stadium in The Bronx

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Friday night, the Toronto Blue Jays will send Mark Buehrle (12 – 9, 3.40 ERA) to the mound to face the New York Yankees and Hiroki Kuroda (10 – 9, 3.81 ERA).   Both pitchers will be making their 31st starts of the season.

Mark Buehrle escaped with a no-decision in his last start.  In 6 innings of work, Buehrle surrendered 4 runs on 9 hits (including a home run) as he struck out a batter without issuing any walks.  After a hot start to the season, Buehrle seems to limping to the finish.  He is just 2 -3 in his last 10 starts.  In 2013, Buehrle finished the year with a 12 – 10 record and a 4.15 ERA in 33 starts.

Last season, Buehrle was 0 – 2 with a 5.04 ERA in 4 starts against New York. This season, he is 0 – 3 in 4 encounters against the Yankees.

Hiroki Kuroda had a solid outing in his last start but failed to get the decision.  Kuroda allowed just a run on 6 hits in 7 innings of work.  He struck out 5 without issuing any walks.   Kuroda has given up 4 or more runs only twice in his last 10 starts as he has compiled a 4 – 3 record in that span of time.  Last season, Kuroda made 32 starts en route to an 11 -13 record and a 3.31 ERA.

Kuroda went 2 - 2 with a 3.34 ERA in 5 starts against Toronto last season.  This season, he is 2 - 0 in 2 starts against the Blue Jays.          

Injuries to Watch

Toronto Blue Jays

09/18/14 C Dioner Navarro Head is not expected to be in the starting lineup Thursday vs. New York Yankees
09/05/14 LF Melky Cabrera Finger out for season
09/04/14 P Chad Jenkins Hand 15-day DL (9/5); out for season
09/03/14 3B Brett Lawrie Back 60-day DL (8/6), out for season
07/09/14 RF Cole Gillespie Oblique 15-day DL (7/7)
04/14/14 2B Maicer Izturis Knee 60-day DL (4/14)

New York Yankees

09/17/14 RF Carlos Beltran Personal expected to miss Thursday vs. Toronto Blue Jays
09/16/14 RF Martin Prado Appendix 60-day DL (9/15)
07/10/14 P Masahiro Tanaka Elbow 60-day DL (7/9)
05/11/14 P CC Sabathia Knee 60-day DL (5/11); out for season
04/20/14 P Ivan Nova Elbow 60-day DL (4/20); out for season

Tony's Pick: Take Toronto

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Tony Sink