Since their foundation in 1977, the Toronto Blue Jays have given the Yankees trouble. Regardless of how good each team is, the Jays always seem to get in the way. They ruined the 1st live major league sporting event I ever saw, a 1978 Memorial Day Weekend game, despite being a 2nd-year expansion team while the Yankees were the defending World Champions. They ruined the best Yankee season between 1981 and 1995 by winning just 1 game of a regular-season-ending weekend series in 1985. They surged past the Yankees to win the American League Eastern Division title in 1987, the Summer after my high school graduation. They beat the Yankees for the Division title again in 1993. And they beat the Yankees in last year's AL Division Series. For this reason, I call them "the pesky Blue Jays" -- sometimes "those pesky Blue Jays," or even just "the Peskies" for short.
The Yankees hosted the Jays this weekend, and, while the defending AL East Champions are not doing well this season, they still had to be taken seriously.
Cam Schlittler put on an acelike performance on Friday night, going 6 innings, allowing 1 run on 6 hits and 3 walks, striking out 4. Three relievers each allowed 1 hit, but nothing more. The Yankees got only 4 hits themselves, but 1 was a 2-run home run by Spencer Jones in the bottom of the 2nd inning, and the Yankees went on to win, 3-1.
But on Saturday afternoon, Ryan Weathers only lasted 3 1/3rd innings, allowing 2 runs on 8 hits, but no walks. He went on the Injured List after the game. The bullpen did fairly well. But it didn't matter: Again, the Yankees only got 4 hits, with Dylan Cease taking a no-hitter into the 7th inning. They almost came back, with Luis García Jr. hitting a home run in the 8th. Jazz Chisholm led off the bottom of the 9th with a double, but he was stranded. Blue Jays 4, Yankees 3.
Cody Bellinger was activated from the IL before yesterday afternoon's game. George Lombard Jr. led off the 2nd inning with a single, Jones doubled him home, and, after a Chisholm groundout, Austin Wells doubled Jones home.
Tied at 2-2, the Yankees began the 6th with 3 straight singles, by Lombard, Jones and Chisholm. Wells struck out, and José Caballero flew to center, and Lombard was unable to score on the fly. But Trent Grisham drew a walk to force Lombard in, and Ben Rice singled Jones and Chisholm home. Bellinger led off the 7th with a single, and scored on a Chisholm homer. Grisham added a homer in the 8th.
Carlos Rodón made his 2nd start since coming off the IL, and he only went 4 innings, 76 pitches. He allowed 2 runs, 1 of them earned, on 2 hits and 2 walks. Paul Blackburn pitched 2 perfect innings, with Ryan Yarbrough allowing a run in the 8th and Brent Headrick finishing the job. The Yankees won, 8-3.
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With 32 games to, the Yankees trail the Tampa Bay Rays by 3 games in the AL East. They still hold the 4th spot in the AL Playoffs.
Bellinger and Rodón are off the Injured List. But the news on that front remains rough:
* Max Fried has a bone bruise on his left elbow. They're optimistic that he could return as soon as this coming weekend.
* Ryan McMahon has a sprained left thumb. He could be back at the start of September.
* Clarke Schmidt is in the latter stages of recovery from Tommy John surgery. Tomorrow, he will throw a live batting practice session at The Stadium. If it goes well, he'll go to minor-league rehab, with the aim of putting him in the bullpen in early September, where we still need help.
* Aaron Judge is still recovering from the stress fracture of a right-side rib. He started hitting off a tee last week. He could be back in September. His return in time to be back to full capacity before the postseason is vital.
* Ryan Weathers has a flexor strain in his left forearm. And he was already a hole-filler for the starting rotation. He is expected back in late September.
* Giancarlo Stanton was nearing recovery from a right calf strain, when he strained his left calf. Seriously. Aaron Boone says he doesn't expect him to return this season. We may have seen the last of Stanton as a Yankee -- maybe even the last of him as an active player. He has 456 career home runs. With his other career stats, he may have lost his chance at the Baseball Hall of Fame: He's the kind of player where, if he reaches 500 homers, he would get in; but if he only makes it to 499, he wouldn't.
* Angel Chivilli has a bone spur in his right elbow. There is no timetable for his recovery. I wouldn't expect him back this season, but he could be key to the bullpen next season.
The Yankees have tonight off, and then start a rough stretch. We have 3 at home to the Chicken Fried Cheats, the Houston Astros; then, without a day off, 4 in 3 days, forced by an earlier-in-the-season rainout, at home to the Chowder Cheats, the Boston Red Sox. Then, the next week, it's off to the Pacific Coast, for 3 against the Los Angeles Angels, then 3 Interleague games with the San Diego Padres.
The last month or so of the regular season will be dramatic, if nothing else.
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