After losing the first game 3-2, the New York Yankees need to win Tuesday night against the Blue Jays at Rogers Center.
The Tampa Bay Rays have caught up to tie in the standings, and the Boston Red Sox are still very much alive.
Translation...inter-division games can kill a team’s chances for playoff berth, so the Yankees cannot lose this series for starters.
The Blue Jays are making things difficult against all AL East teams. Toronto is not making the playoffs this season, but in any other division, my bet is circumstances would be different.
In all honesty, handing the ball to RHP Dustin Moseley is risky because he brings no stability on the mound.
Moseley has fared better because Yankees bats have backed him by scoring runs. This will be essential once again, as Moseley is no match for the home-run hitting Blue Jays.
Toronto’s Jose Bautista has demolished the Yankees in 2010, hitting six homers and 12 RBI with a .511 on-base percentage. Against Moseley, the slugger is 0 and 4, striking-out once and walking one time as well.
Still, Moseley in his last start against Toronto gave up nine hits, five earned runs, two home-runs, walked one, managed two strikeouts and a game ERA of 6.14.
Moseley has made five starts since Andy Pettitte hit the DL, pitched 29 innings, allowing 16 earned runs, seven home runs, with 14 strikeouts and 10 walks.
Problem is Moseley has only had three strikeouts, while allowing four home runs and eight hits in his latest two outings.
The Blue Jays are countering with LHP Mark Rzepczynski, who is even more inexperienced than Moseley, making his fifth start for Toronto.
Rzepczynski is 1-1 over four starts in 2010. He mirrors Moseley with a ERA of 4.76.
On the season, in 22.2 innings pitched he’s allowed 12 earned runs, two home runs, but has struck out 19 batters.
His last start was awful as Rzepczynski has zero strike-outs, giving up 5 hits, with three runs scoring before getting pulled in the fourth inning.
Yankees need to watch for Rzepczynski’s change-up, as that is his strongest pitch but only if he can execute it.
PREDICTION
Yankees need to run on base-pads against Blue Jays catcher Jose Molina. This is not easy, but the Yankees know Molina and the Blue Jays don’t focus on runners as much as they should.
Hint: Brett Gardner can cause chaos.
With Derek Jeter back in the line-up, the Yankees will win 6-1.
Moseley will get the win over Rzepczynski, but this is a close call.
Yankees know how to win when they need to, and this is against any team.
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