Blue Jays vs. Yankees (August 20): Is another frustrating afternoon ahead for Cole?

Today could be quite the pivotal day in the AL East. With back-to-back wins over the New York Yankees, the Toronto Blue Jays are now within eight games in the division, and a win this afternoon will wrap up the series win and position them for a huge sweep.

Last night, Kevin Gausman produced one of his best performances of the season in a 4-0 shutout win for Toronto.

Toronto had been pretty wasteful with the opening that the Yankees’ slide this month had offered them, but they have stepped up in this week’s head-to-head matchup thus far.

Now the pressure is on the Yankees’ struggling lineup and Gerrit Cole to deliver this afternoon. They may still be in control in the AL East for now, but will that continue?

Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Yankees Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Toronto Blue Jays (64-54, 28-29 away, 2nd in the AL East) vs. New York Yankees (73-47, 42-19 home, 1st in the AL East)
• Venue & Location: Yankee Stadium (New York, New York)
• Date: Saturday, August 20, 2022
• Game Time: 1:05 p.m. Eastern Time
• Blue Jays vs. Yankees TV Info: MLB Network

Blue Jays vs. Yankees Pitching Matchup

• Toronto Blue Jays: Mitch White (2022: 17 appearances – 12 starts, 1-3, 3.72 ERA)
• New York Yankees: Gerrit Cole (2022: 24 starts, 9-5, 3.30 ERA)

Blue Jays vs. Yankees Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline. This article may also feature odds from other legal sports betting sites that we have reviewed and recommend.

Moneyline

• Toronto Blue Jays +152
• New York Yankees -180

Over/Under

• Over 7.5 (-118)
• Under 7.5 (-104)

Run Line

• Toronto Blue Jays +1.5 (-137)
• New York Yankees -1.5 (+114)

When Will the Bats Finally Break Out for the Yankees?

In their run of four wins in 17 games, there have been a few poor pitching performances for the Yankees.

But the balance of the blame for their extended slump lies with the bats, who had yet another putrid performance last night against Gausman and co.

Last night marked the fifth shutout in 13 games for the Yankees. In their first 107 games, they had been blanked six times.

Over their last ten games, the Bronx Bombers have scored more than three runs only once. That was in Wednesday’s walk-off win over the Tampa Bay Rays. In that win, they scored eight runs. In the other nine most recent games, they have scored 11 runs and have been shut out four times.

Two of the four shutouts have occurred in Cole’s last two starts. He had a rough start against Seattle to kick off his August, but he has upheld his end in his last two starts, allowing one run, nine hits, and two walks and striking out 14 in 13 innings.

Cole has a 2.94 ERA at home (in 13 starts) and in daytime games (in eight starts), and he allowed three runs in 5.2 innings in his lone start against the Blue Jays this year.

But with how things are going at the plate for the Yankees, he might need to do what he has done seven times at home and 11 times overall this season, which is allow fewer than two runs.

That is a tough ask against a team that is one of the best, if not the best, in the league in batting against righties and in games started by RHP.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Yankees Prediction and Picks

Blue Jays vs. Yankees Prediction: Blue Jays to win

Blue Jays vs. Yankees Picks: Blue Jays ML (Best Value: +158 at Bovada Sportsbook)

The Yankees have the edge in the starting pitching matchup, but that may not be worth much here.

Where Toronto thrives when righties are involved, the Yankees don’t. Additionally, their splits are worse at home and during the day, compared to their away and night splits.

And we haven’t even covered the part where they are one of the worst teams in the league when it comes to batting with runners in scoring position and with runners in scoring position with two outs.

So, even if they can get some runners on against White, will they even be able to get them home? There’s not a lot of reason to feel confident that they will.

Cole may have another outstanding start, but with the bats seemingly roaming the wilderness at the moment, the value here is with Toronto. The Yankees shouldn’t even be favored as heavily as they are here based on what they’re doing–or not doing–right now, but that presents a good opportunity for bettors to make the most of if the slide continues today.

More Blue Jays vs. Yankees Content

• Blue Jays vs. Yankees Odds, Stats & Trends (8/20)