Jays - Yankees. Series Preview

Toronto v New York. Series Preview.

Another big 4 game series for Jays but aren’t they all now? I think it is amazing that they are still hanging around after their awful June slump. A good series here and they could be back in it bigtime. Yankees lose last night to Seattle and give up two in the ninth but it was Aceves not Rivera. However they will not like that as Sabathia was pitching and takes the loss. Yankees need every win right now to get to Boston three ahead. Jays need every win to pull Yankees back to them. Seattle is now in Boston and Tampa in Texas.

Wells will be back in the lineup after sitting out last game against Tampa. Where will he be in the lineup ?
Not in the three or four spots. Lind and Rolen right now are going well. Cito says he doesn’t want to put him too low to destroy his confidence and also wants make sure he does not get fewer at bats whilst trying to get his stroke back. Cito’s oldtimer hitter background…. Come on Cito, Vernon knows he is awful right now, . “I haven't produced like I expect myself to, and I feel I've left them no choice but to try to sort some things out." 2-19 and 8-32 in the last homestand.
No use putting him fifth as they will pitch around Rolen to get to him. If he is sixth in lineup will Rios be behind him?

Yankees had a seven game win streak going before last night. A-Rod was 10 for 23 with four homers and 13 RBIs and seven runs scored during the streak. He was hitless last night so lets hope that continues for four more.

This is Jays first visit to the New Yankee Stadium so I hope they are focused and not starry eyed. Tallet today (5-5, 4.47) has pitched very well in his last five outings on the road, going 2-2 with a 1.74 ERA. His last game was Sunday against the Phillies where he gave up five runs over six innings in a 5-4 loss. And more importantly to my mind gave up six walks. As with others in the Jays pitching staff he has to reduce those walks. They are hurting this team badly especially when the hitters go into a slump.

Tallet faces Burnett 6-4 3.93 ERA, and 4-2 with a 1.75 ERA in his last six starts. His last start was evidently his best going seven innings and only one single against the Mets. Too bad that it is not a Burnett match up with Halladay but he will go tomorrow against Chien-Mien Wang.
Jays getting excited about return of Downs later in week but the problem with that is that Jays have to be winning by the ninth to get him in the game and rceently that has not been a given.