Yankee Tanaka Outpitches (Future Yankee?) Stroman, Yanks Beat Jays

UPDATE: Stroman did end up getting traded to a New York team near the deadline -- but it was the Mets.

If Marcus Stroman of the Toronto Blue Jays really is a targeted before-the-trading-deadline starting pitcher for the Yankees, we're going to have to look past his won-loss record, and see that he's actually pitching decently -- in the American League, and in the Eastern Division, no less. Even after yesterday's game, his ERA is just 3.25.

He started against the Yankees, going 6 innings, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks, with 7 strikeouts. Had Masahiro Tanaka done that well, and no better, I think I would have taken it.

As it happened, Tanaka was better: 6 innings, 2 runs, 4 hits, no walks, 5 strikeouts. As you may have guessed, those 2 runs came on home runs, solo shots by Eric Sogard and Randal Grichuk, both in the 5th inning. Adam Ottavino and Tommy Kahnle combined for a scoreless 7th inning, Zack Britton pitched a scoreless 8th, and Aroldis Chapman a perfect 9th.

Of course, any pitcher, or series of pitchers for a single team, needs run support. Luke Voit led off the bottom of the 2nd with an infield single. Gleyber Torres doubled. Brett Gardner grounded to 1st, and the runners had to hold. But Gio Urshela singled them home. 2-0 Yankees.

Those pesky Blue Jays tied it in the top of the 5th. But in the bottom of the 5th, the Yankees got another leadoff infield single, this time from Urshela. Austin Romine drew a walk. Mike Tauchman popped up, and DJ LeMahieu grounded into a field's choice that eliminated Romine, but got Urshela to 3rd. Then Stroman threw a wild pitch to score Urshela. 3-2 Yankees.

Tauchman made up for his pop-up by hitting a home run in the bottom of the 7th. That made the final score Yankees 4, Blue Jays 2. WP: Tanaka (6-5). SV: Chapman (25). LP: Stroman (5-10).

The trading deadline is 16 days away. So far, the only names really being talked about as being trade bait are prospects. Has Brian Cashman finally seen the light? Has he finally grasped that he has enough prospects, and that he needs to go for it this year?

The Tampa Bay Rays won yesterday, while the Boston Red Sox are tied in the 8th inning as I type this. The Yankees remain 6 games ahead of the Rays in the AL East, but 8 games in the loss column, as they have 4 games in hand. The Red Sox lost, and are now 10 games back, 11 in the loss column.

Tonight, the Yankees begin a series against the Rays. At the end of it, the following may have happened:

* The status quo could hold: The Rays would be the Yankees' closest challengers, with the Red Sox behind.

* The Yankees could knock the Rays out of the race, and the Red Sox would take their place as the closest challengers.

* The Yankees could knock the Rays back, but they could recover.

* The Rays could close the gap, and expose the Yankees as needing that extra starter before the deadline more than we already think they do.

Here are the projected starting pitchers for the series, with all games set for a 7:05 start:

* Tonight: James Paxton vs. Blake Snell.
* Tomorrow: CC Sabathia for us, and the Rays are currently undecided.
* Wednesday: Domingo German vs. Yonny Chirinos.
* Thursday: J.A. Happ vs. Charlie Morton.

Come on you Pinstripes!