Once again, the American League East is coming down to the wire. Tuesday gave us an instant classic, with the Yankees clawing out a 5-4 win via a ninth inning Ben Rice home run. However, the Blue Jays still hold a three-game lead for first place in the division. Which of these two rivals will earn a series win tonight? Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Wednesday’s showdown between the Yankees and the Blue Jays.
The Yankees are favorites (-143) over the Blue Jays, with the over/under set at 8.5 runs. Let’s break down which side has the edge on DraftKings Sportsbook entering tonight’s contest.
Yankees vs. Blue Jays prediction, preview
Last night was crucial for the Yankees, both in terms of winning the division and gaining some momentum. Tuesday marked the team’s first win in Toronto, bringing their record to 1-5 in Canada. New York will hope to clinch a series win with ace Max Fried taking the hill. The southpaw has been phenomenal in Pinstripes, notching a 2.43 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 113 strikeouts over 122.0 innings. However, he was pulled during his last start, against the Cubs, due to a finger blister. A lengthy All-Star break rest should help, but it remains to be seen how Fried will do tonight.
It’s been a mixed bag for the 31-year-old in this matchup. During his first outing vs. the Blue Jays in April, Fried tossed six scoreless innings. On July 1st, Toronto managed to score four runs against the veteran. Canada’s team has been playing inspired baseball as of late, especially on offense. Since June 1st, the Jays have scored a league-leading 126 runs. Several standouts during that time include George Springer (.897 OPS) and Alejandro Kirk (.823). At home, Toronto is averaging the league’s fourth-most runs per game (5.30).
Even if Fried isn’t at his best, New York is still capable of pulling out a win. That’s due to one of the sport’s most dangerous lineups. It all starts with Aaron Judge, currently in the midst of an all-time great season (211 wRC+). Jays manager John Schneider is fully aware of this. That’s why the two-time MVP has garnered seven intentional walks in his last six games vs. Toronto. The Bronx Bombers need big hits from the batters around Judge, including Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Giancarlo Stanton.
Toeing the slab for Toronto tonight will be Chris Bassitt. It’s been a decent, albeit not great, campaign from the 36-year-old. Through 113.1 innings of work, the two-time All-Star has recorded a 3.89 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 109 strikeouts. In terms of Wednesday’s game, this is a spot that the righty has done well in before. Over seven career starts vs. the Yankees, Bassitt owns a sparkling 2.03 ERA. With that being said, he’s surrendered seven runs during his two meetings with New York this season (5.56 ERA).
Yankees vs. Blue Jays pick, best bet
Best Bet: Yankees vs. Blue Jays total under 8.5 runs (-118)
It’s difficult to get a read on this matchup, largely due to Fried’s health. Assuming New York’s ace is good to go, he should deliver another solid outing. However, Bassitt’s success against the Yankees isn’t something to ignore, either. Rather than back one side, I’d rather put my faith in each of these two starters.
