Aaah, we're in for a barn burner today with the Blue Jays soaring into the high-castle known as Yankee Stadium. You know, they say there's nothing quite like a balmy evening in the Bronx, and last time I checked, that benefits our buddies with bats more than our friends flinging fastballs.
On the mound, Toronto sends out Yariel Rodriguez, a pretty meng-midiocre this season. Posting a 4.61 ERA with a 1.46 WHIP over 10 appearances doesn't inspire visions of Cy Young. Now contrast that with New York’s Gerrit Cole, who's been sputtering along with a 5.51 ERA over just 7 appearances. Looks like we’ll see some fireworks at home plate tonight.
Keeping our eye on Toronto's heavy hitters, we have Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who's been smashing it with a .389 batting average, 22 RBIs, and 9 taters this season. Alejandro Kirk and George Springer also need a mention, both adding their fair share to the Jays' offensive machinery.
Looking to respond in the Box for the Yanks, we got Antonio Banderas... no, wait, it's Juan Soto. A close second to Antonio in sex appeal, he's been scorching with a .330 batting average, 16 RBIs, and a respectable 7 Big Apples. Aaron Judge is still playing judge, jury, and executioner with a .329 batting average and 20 RBIs.
Now, if we flip the calendar couple pages back, these two have been trading haymakers. It's been a see-saw battle with the Yankees getting the last laugh on Aug 3rd, 2024. Sure, the Blue Jays did snag the second of a doubleheader that same day, but the season series has been largely Yankees-dominated.
Looking at the recent games, the Yanks have been on a tear, pulling out victories even when it seemed they'd be eating Philadelphian cheesesteak into the wee hours. The Blue Jays, however, have been navigating some turbulent winds lately, their feathers ruffled, and it seems the Orioles have been having poultry for dinner.
And the verdict? After diving into the stats, historical performances, and my magic 8-ball, which never lies, we foresee a Yankees victory. The Blue Jays are going to need more than a wing and a prayer to win this one.
Albert’s Prediction: New York Yankees by 3