New York Yankees at Toronto Blue Jays - The Return of Burnett
by Robby Maddux
Toronto Blue Jays (22-12)
This three-game series should dominated by pitching, starting with Game 1's stellar hurling duel between Yankees' right-hander A.J. Burnett (2-0, 5.26) and right-hander Roy Halladay (6-1, 3.29), who owns MLB's eleventh richest arm at +$390 based on $100 wagers. The Blue Jays surprisingly sit atop the AL East, and over the weekend, they took the top-spot on baseball's most money earned list.
The Yankees, meanwhile, try to reach .500 when Burnett makes his first start against his former team with A-Rod backing him at third. Burnett hasn't found the 'L' column but he's played a role in New York's shaky rotation this season, which ranks 29th in the majors with a 5.79 ERA. The Yankees, who are playing well below its $2 billion plus payroll, ended a five-game losing streak by taking their weekend series against Baltimore.
But winning back-to-series’ doesn't seem likely for New York with Toronto's ace opening the stint and considering the Yankees are 2-8 in their last ten when facing AL East foes. Halladay won his last five starts versus the Yankees in 2008, improving him to 15-5 with a 2.86 ERA all-time against them. In three home starts, Halladay was 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA and two complete games versus New York last season. If you look further you'll see Doc's club is 10-1 at home and 20-7 overall when climbing the hill against the guys wearing pinstripes.
The Blue Jays' starters also include MLB's fifth-most profitable arm in Scott Richmond (4-1, 3.29 ERA), who's one-of-nine different pitchers to have already started at least two games for Toronto, contributing to their respectable ERA of 4.11. The right-hander takes the ball in the middle game on Wednesday to throw against the Yankees for the first time, looking to build on his $490 collected from his team going 5-1 when he starts. The Yankees counter with southpaw Andy Pettitte (2-1, 4.38 ERA), who's 17-11 lifetime with a 4.19 ERA versus Toronto.
The series ends Thursday in what should be a good lefty versus lefty matchup. Toronto's Brian Tallet (2-1, 4.95 ERA) has never faced New York as a starter but has a win against them, which came in one of his 20 career relief appearances. In 28 and 1/3rd lifetime innings pitched against New York, he's owner of a stout 2.86 ERA and has fanned 20, while allowing a modest nine runs (all earned) and just two dingers to the Bronx Bombers.
Yankees' C.C. Sabatha (2-3, 3.94 ERA) will try to even his season's record in the series finale. Despite a sluggish start in his first seven games in New York, he's been strong against the Blue Jays, going 7-3 in ten career starts with a solid 3.46 ERA.
Analysis: Toronto ranks first in MLB with a team batting average of .294, as well as first with 204 runs - 19 more runs scored than Boston's second-most 185. The Blue Jays also have an MLB-best 366 hits and 44 third-most homeruns. When they get runners into scoring position, they are hitting a third-best .307 which much better than New York's .244.
Free MLB Picks: Toronto Blue Jays (To win series). If you bet on MLB, be sure to visit the BetUS MLB odds, and good luck!
