First pitch: Tuesday, 7:05 p.m. ET
Line: New York +125, Toronto -135, Total: 9

The Yankees look to make up some ground in the AL East with a win over the Blue Jays in Toronto on Tuesday.

New York had won five of its past seven games before losing 4-2 to this Toronto team in the first contest of a three-game set on Monday. The Blue Jays now have a 3.5-game lead over the Yankees in the division. They had lost two straight games before picking up the big victory on Monday and they値l be looking to take even more of a commanding lead in Tuesday痴 game. Pitching for the Yankees in this game will be RHP Luis Severino (4-3, 3.12 ERA, 45 K) and he値l be going up against RHP Marco Estrada (13-8, 3.14 ERA, 117 K) of the host Blue Jays. Toronto has gotten the best of this head-to-head matchup on the year, going 12-5 against New York this season. The Blue Jays are 4-3 when playing as the host this season as well. The 12 wins picked up by Toronto against New York this year is the most the team has ever won in a single season against the Yankees. One thing working in the favor of New York is the fact that the team is 43-23 against the money line after having won two of its past three games this season. Toronto, however, is 34-14 against the money line in home games after one or more consecutive Unders this season. 1B Mark Teixeira (Shin) is out for the season for the Yankees and SS Troy Tulowitzki (Back) is out indefinitely for the Blue Jays.

Luis Severino started against the Blue Jays on Sep. 11 and had his worst start of the season, allowing six earned runs on six hits in just 2.1 innings of work. He did, however, rebound and pitch 5.2 innings of one-run ball against the Rays in his next start. He struck out seven batters in that game and he値l need to carry some of that confidence into this next meeting with Toronto. This is a big spot for the young starter and New York needs him to keep them in the game in this one. One Yankees player who will be looking forward to playing on Tuesday is OF Carlos Beltran (.276, 16 HR, 58 RBI), who has a homer and five RBI over the past three games. Beltran has really given Marco Estrada problems in the past, going 6-for-22 with three homers and four RBI against the pitcher in his career. The Yankees will need his bat on Tuesday. Another guy that will need to bring some of his success against Estrada is DH Alex Rodriguez (.255, 32 HR, 83 RBI). Rodriguez is 3-for-10 with a homer and four RBI against Estrada in his career and should be feeling fresh after taking most of the series against the Mets off. 1B Greg Bird (.250, 9 HR, 25 RBI) has been on a tear for the Yankees lately, racking up four homers and eight RBI over the past six games. He値l need to continue to provide power for this team, as the Yankees are really missing Mark Teixeira痴 bat and Bird is easing that pain with his play.

The Blue Jays had lost two straight games before defeating the Yankees on Tuesday. Marco Estrada will now be sent to the mound to try to stretch the lead in the AL East and he is coming off of a brilliant performance against the Braves on Sep. 17. Estrada shut Atlanta out in eight innings of work and will try to keep his momentum going in this one. He has allowed just six earned runs in his past 17.1 innings of work against the Yankees and Toronto has picked up wins in all three of those starts. OF Jose Bautista (.253, 36 HR, 105 RBI) was 2-for-4 with an RBI against the Yankees on Monday. He has gotten hits in four straight games and has homered off of Severino already this season. He値l be looking to stay hot on Tuesday, but 3B Josh Donaldson (.299, 39 HR, 120 RBI) is the guy that the Yankees will really be afraid of in this game. Donaldson was just 1-for-3 with two runs scored on Monday, but he has given Severino some trouble in the small sample size this matchup has. Donaldson is 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI against the young pitcher and will be looking to take him yard once again in this game.