Toronto Blue Jays (11-8) vs. New York Yankees (12-7)
April 22, 2023 1:05 pm EDT
The Line: New York Yankees -132 / Toronto Blue Jays +105; Over/Under: +7.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees meet Saturday in MLB action from Yankee Stadium. This will be the second installment in a three-game weekend series. In the Friday opener, the Blue Jays pulled off a five-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays played the Astros this week, winning Tuesday but otherwise falling in the remaining pair. On Friday versus the Yankees, Toronto posted two runs in the first inning and never looked back in a 6-1 victory. Starter Yusei Kikuchi put up 6.0 innings with one earned on four hits and two walks.
As starter for the Saturday matchup, it’ll be Alek Manoah. In his four starts so far Manoah is 1-1 with a 698 ERA and 16 Ks in 19.1 innings. Manoah is 26-10 with a 2.86 ERA in his career over 55 starts.
New York Yankees
Over on the New York side, they lost to the Angels on Tuesday but bounced back for wins in the other two games this week. On Friday the Yankees couldn’t get much of anything going on five team hits. Domingo German managed 6.0 innings in the start with four earned, five hits and two walks.
Gerrit Cole will take the mound for the start on Saturday. Cole is 4-0 over four starts so far this year, posting a 0.95 ERA and 32 Ks in 28.1 innings. Cole is 134-71 with a 3.20 ERA in 271 career starts.
The Blue Jays are 4-1 in their last five in game two of a series and 38-17 in their last 55 Saturday games. Toronto is 24-11 in their last 35 on grass.
Meanwhile, the Yankees are 72-33 in their last 105 in game two of a series and 64-29 in their last 93 at home. New York is 13-4 in their last 17 versus the AL East.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ve got to stay with the Yankees here. Cole is off to a brilliant start so far, winning each one of his four starts. In his last outing, Cole posted a complete-game shutout versus the Twins with just two hits and a walk. As for Manoah, he had some trouble in his last start (4.2 innings; seven earned), but should bounce back here. On Friday in the opener, New York was pretty flat offensively and couldn’t do much with their limited baserunners. Cole should put the Yankees in a good spot during game two, but they’ll need the bats to come around.
