Rodriguez returns for Yanks-Blue Jays opener
Sweeping Oakland constitutes one thing. Can the Yankees confirm that they have officially turned the corner by dispatching a chief AL East rival, though?
New York aims to stay hot in tonight’s series opener vs. Toronto, with a 7:05 p.m. ET first pitch in the Bronx. Oddsmakers at online sports book Bovada.lv list the home team as a 1.5-favorite. The Blue Jays, conversely, come in as +105 underdogs.
Not only is Joe Girardi’s club on the cusp of winning six in a row, it stands to welcome Alex Rodriguez back to the lineup. The designated hitter, sidelined since May 3 due to a right hamstring strain, may show few signs of rust against R.A. Dickey (2-5, 4.50). Rodriguez boasts a career .303 average off the knuckleballer, whose last triumph at Yankee Stadium occurred on May 20, 2011.
The Yanks’ recent surge with the sticks also means that A-Rod needn’t feel compelled to carry the load. Right fielder Carlos Beltran racked up nine base knocks as New York (21-22) just took all four from the A’s, and Jacoby Ellsbury suddenly looks like the OBP monster of yesteryear. Such threats will wield the lumber in support of Nathan Eovaldi (4-2, 4.44) this evening. The righty retired 18 straight Arizona hitters after Jean Segura’s leadoff two-bagger in the first inning of Wednesday’s 4-2 victory.
MLB Quick Links: Free Matchup Reports | Injuries | Odds Comparison | Scoreboard | Betting Trends
While Toronto (22-24) captured eight of 10 meetings with the Yankees in 2015, the hosts are obviously flying high at present. They remain 5 ½ games behind Boston and Baltimore in the division race, but that 8-24 start no longer weighs on the Pinstripers. Let the bats keep raking.
TUESDAY MLB FREE PICK: BLUE JAYS/YANKEES OVER 8.5 RUNS
Want More Picks, Predictions & Odds From The Spread.com? Follow on Twitter and Facebook or Subscribe to Our News Feeds!