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TORONTO – In the shadow of the CN Tower, the Yankees’ 2025 season changed course.
Within a month, the Yankees dropped six of seven games to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, taking them from a 6.5-game AL East lead to a one-game deficit from June 3 to July 3.
That helped cost the Yanks home field advantage in October, when Toronto outscored them here 23-8 in the first two games of the AL Division Series, on the way to a four-game win in that best-of-five.
After splitting a four-game Bronx set with Toronto in May, the Yankees (41-26) arrive for this weekend’s three-game series atop the AL East, tied with Tampa Bay (40-25) while the defending AL champion Blue Jays (33-36) are in third place, nine games back.
Despite some key injuries and a failure to gain any traction, “They’re still a great club,’’ said Yanks starter Carlos Rodon. “Playing in Toronto, it can be a different animal as well.
“It’s a fun place to play, but they play well there,’’ Rodon said of the Jays, who are 20-16 at Rogers Centre this year, but 12-22 overall versus teams playing above .500.
Of course, the Yankees arrive in Canada without the services of two-time reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge (stress fracture, first right rib), though they’re coming off an encouraging three-game sweep at Cleveland – knocking the Guardians out of first place in the AL Central.
“Even on a day where we didn’t hit a homer, we managed to win,’’ said Jose Caballero of the Yanks’ resiliency, following Wednesday’s 8-4 win at Progressive Field.
Here are a few things to watch this weekend at Toronto:
Entering Wednesday’s sixth inning, Anthony Volpe was in a 1-for-24 slide before greeting Cleveland reliever Matt Festa with a sharp RBI double.
Earlier in the game, Volpe committed a throwing error that did not lead to a run, but Volpe’s defense – and his current .194 batting average – are under constant scrutiny with Jose Caballero essentially back to being a utility player.
“In a lot of ways, both deserve to be in there,’’ Aaron Boone said recently.
That’s unsettling to large swaths of Yankees Universe after the manager’s initial take that Caballero wouldn’t lose the shortstop (providing an offensive spark, with solid defensive grades) due to a May 11-21 injury list stint (fractured right middle finger).
Since Caballero’s return, he’s made five starts at shortstop to Volpe’s 11. In that span, Caballero has also made two starts at third base, one start in left field and four starts in right field – coinciding with Judge’s IL stint.
This week at Cleveland, Boone categorized Volpe’s defense as “excellent. Feel like he’s made half a dozen or so pretty outstanding plays,’’ adding that his “at-bats have been OK.’’
Meanwhile, Caballero nearly collided with Trent Grisham during a Wednesday afternoon play that was clearly the center fielder's ball, adding to questions about playing Caballero out of position and the commitment to Volpe at shortstop.
Five weeks after spraining the AC joint of his left shoulder on a catch into the outfield wall, Jasson Dominguez could be ready for activation this weekend.
Or the Yankees could choose to continue his minor league rehab or option him back to Triple-A.
Late Wednesday, the Yankees were officially undecided on Dominguez's weekend status, or what that might mean for Spencer Jones, having more success in his second big-league tour this year.
Jones' 443-foot home run Tuesday, the first of his MLB career, and he's 6-for-12 since being recalled last Friday, when Judge hit the IL.
As part of his big-league prep, with Judge out for a significant stretch, Dominguez has started the last two games in right field, a new position for him, and the early reports of his comfort-level have been good.
Back in New York, Giancarlo Stanton (strained right calf) is increasing his running program, and continues to take live BP.
Boone suggested that Stanton could be a candidate for activation sometime during the Yankees' next homestand, beginning Tuesday and running through June 21.
Stanton's return would provide more balance and power at DH to a Judge-less lineup, but his presence could also greatly diminish the playing time of Paul Goldschmidt, with Ben Rice splitting less time between first base and DH.
Goldschmidt, 38, is coming off a terrific series both offensively (5-for-12, HR, 2 walks 4 RBI) and defensively at first base.
Since May 9, Goldschmidt is batting .333 (31-for-91) with six homers, 21 RBI and a .968 OPS in 25 games.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees vs Blue Jays series preview, Anthony Volpe vs Jose Caballero
Continue reading...
Within a month, the Yankees dropped six of seven games to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, taking them from a 6.5-game AL East lead to a one-game deficit from June 3 to July 3.
That helped cost the Yanks home field advantage in October, when Toronto outscored them here 23-8 in the first two games of the AL Division Series, on the way to a four-game win in that best-of-five.
After splitting a four-game Bronx set with Toronto in May, the Yankees (41-26) arrive for this weekend’s three-game series atop the AL East, tied with Tampa Bay (40-25) while the defending AL champion Blue Jays (33-36) are in third place, nine games back.
Despite some key injuries and a failure to gain any traction, “They’re still a great club,’’ said Yanks starter Carlos Rodon. “Playing in Toronto, it can be a different animal as well.
“It’s a fun place to play, but they play well there,’’ Rodon said of the Jays, who are 20-16 at Rogers Centre this year, but 12-22 overall versus teams playing above .500.
Of course, the Yankees arrive in Canada without the services of two-time reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge (stress fracture, first right rib), though they’re coming off an encouraging three-game sweep at Cleveland – knocking the Guardians out of first place in the AL Central.
“Even on a day where we didn’t hit a homer, we managed to win,’’ said Jose Caballero of the Yanks’ resiliency, following Wednesday’s 8-4 win at Progressive Field.
Here are a few things to watch this weekend at Toronto:
Yankees' shortstop saga
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Entering Wednesday’s sixth inning, Anthony Volpe was in a 1-for-24 slide before greeting Cleveland reliever Matt Festa with a sharp RBI double.
Earlier in the game, Volpe committed a throwing error that did not lead to a run, but Volpe’s defense – and his current .194 batting average – are under constant scrutiny with Jose Caballero essentially back to being a utility player.
“In a lot of ways, both deserve to be in there,’’ Aaron Boone said recently.
That’s unsettling to large swaths of Yankees Universe after the manager’s initial take that Caballero wouldn’t lose the shortstop (providing an offensive spark, with solid defensive grades) due to a May 11-21 injury list stint (fractured right middle finger).
Since Caballero’s return, he’s made five starts at shortstop to Volpe’s 11. In that span, Caballero has also made two starts at third base, one start in left field and four starts in right field – coinciding with Judge’s IL stint.
This week at Cleveland, Boone categorized Volpe’s defense as “excellent. Feel like he’s made half a dozen or so pretty outstanding plays,’’ adding that his “at-bats have been OK.’’
Meanwhile, Caballero nearly collided with Trent Grisham during a Wednesday afternoon play that was clearly the center fielder's ball, adding to questions about playing Caballero out of position and the commitment to Volpe at shortstop.
Jasson Dominguez or Spencer Jones?
Five weeks after spraining the AC joint of his left shoulder on a catch into the outfield wall, Jasson Dominguez could be ready for activation this weekend.
Or the Yankees could choose to continue his minor league rehab or option him back to Triple-A.
Late Wednesday, the Yankees were officially undecided on Dominguez's weekend status, or what that might mean for Spencer Jones, having more success in his second big-league tour this year.
Jones' 443-foot home run Tuesday, the first of his MLB career, and he's 6-for-12 since being recalled last Friday, when Judge hit the IL.
As part of his big-league prep, with Judge out for a significant stretch, Dominguez has started the last two games in right field, a new position for him, and the early reports of his comfort-level have been good.
Giancarlo Stanton ramping up
You must be registered for see images
Back in New York, Giancarlo Stanton (strained right calf) is increasing his running program, and continues to take live BP.
Boone suggested that Stanton could be a candidate for activation sometime during the Yankees' next homestand, beginning Tuesday and running through June 21.
Stanton's return would provide more balance and power at DH to a Judge-less lineup, but his presence could also greatly diminish the playing time of Paul Goldschmidt, with Ben Rice splitting less time between first base and DH.
Goldschmidt, 38, is coming off a terrific series both offensively (5-for-12, HR, 2 walks 4 RBI) and defensively at first base.
Since May 9, Goldschmidt is batting .333 (31-for-91) with six homers, 21 RBI and a .968 OPS in 25 games.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees vs Blue Jays series preview, Anthony Volpe vs Jose Caballero
Continue reading...
