Scuffling Bronx Bombers aren't your father's Yankees

By: Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

So, almost two months lopped off the schedule.

For the New York Yankees that means 49 down, 113 to go.

When was the last time the Yankees were almost a third of the way through the season and they had amassed less than 10 wins against the American League East? 

Glad you asked. In 2012 the Yankees earned their 10th division win of the season in Game #54 of the season.

In 22 AL East meetings this season the Yankees sit at the 9-13 mark,

These are not your father’s Yankees.

New York has lost four of six to the first-place Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays while dropping two of three to the Baltimore Orioles. Joe Giradi’s team has now taken four of six from the Rays.  

And now the Yankees come into the Rogers Centre for a three-game series.

The Yankees have gone 12-23 in their last 34 meetings with Toronto since July 26, 2014 but are 44-36 in their last 80 head-to-head match ups since July 16, 2012.

The home team in this series is 73-45 since the start of 2010, which includes the Yankees losing 10 of their last 12 series to Toronto since 2014.

Last year the Yankees lost 13 of 19 meetings against the Jays. New York’s highest single-season loss total against Toronto. It was the first time the Yanks had dropped a season series against the Jays since 2010.

The first-place Red Sox are 11-11 against the rest of the AL East after knocking off the Jays 5-3 in 11 innings, while the Orioles are 9-5, the Rays are 12-11 and the Jays are 15-15. 

Ivan Nova started against Marco Estrada Monday night in a rematch from last Wednesday when the Jays scored an 8-4 win. Nova took the loss against the Jays at the small ball park in the Bronx on Wednesday allowing a homer to Russell Martin. Martin and Michael Saunders later homered off Chasen Shreve. 

In 16 games against the Jays -- 14 starts -- Nova has walked 26 and struck out 59 in 76 2/3 innings. Estrada is 2-2 with a 4.19 ERA in seven games against the Yankees, making six starts. He has walked 17 and whiffed 21 in 38 2/3 innings.

In another re-match from last Thursday of left-handers CC Sabathia squares off against J.A. Happ on Tuesday, Sabathia is 15-7 with a 3.21 ERA in 23 starts against the Jays, walking only 36 and striking out 149 in 160 innings.

Happ has had success against the opposition as well going 5-2 with a 4.15 ERA in 11 starts against New York, walking 25 and striking out 53 in 65 innings.

Right-hander Masahiro Tanaka starts the finale for the Yankees on Wednesday against right-hander Aaron Sanchez. Tanaka is 5-2 with a 2.37 ERA in eight starts. He has walked 11 and struck out 54. 

Sanchez has seen lots of New York, but mostly in relief. He’s 1-2 with a 2.76 ERA in 11 games making one start. He has walked eight and struck out 11 in 16 1/3 innings.