When & Where To Watch
Tonight: Coverage on YES and the YES App begins at 6:30 p.m. with the Pregame Show
Tomorrow: Coverage on YES and the YES App begins at 6:00 p.m. with Yankees Batting Practice Today
Saturday: Coverage on YES and the YES App begins at 2:00 p.m. with Yankees Batting Practice Today
Sunday: Coverage on YES and the YES App begins at 12:30 p.m. with Yankees Batting Practice Today
Pinstriped Pulse
Even with some struggles lately, the 52-30 Yankees still own the second-best record in the American League behind the 51-27 Guardians, and the Yanks hold a one-game lead over Baltimore atop the AL East. Anthony Volpe has logged at least one hit in eight of his last nine games. Juan Soto is batting .350 with six walks in 27 plate appearances against the Blue Jays this season. J.D. Davis started both Subway Series games the Yankees played this week after being acquired from Oakland, one at first base and the other at the DH spot. Tommy Kahnle has strung together seven consecutive scoreless appearances out of the bullpen.
How ‘Bout That
Over halfway through the Yankees’ season, Aaron Judge is on the same home run pace through 82 games that he was on in 2022 when he finished with his AL-record total of 62. Judge has gone deep 30 times this year, making him just the third player in MLB history to have three seasons of at least 30 homers prior to the All-Star break, joining Mark McGwire and Ken Griffey Jr. Judge’s numbers in other key categories are also ahead of where he was at this point two seasons ago like his current .309 batting average, 77 RBI and 1.145 OPS. Could another AL MVP Award be in his future?
Know The Foe
At 36-43, the Blue Jays occupy last place in the AL East and they are 6.5 games beneath the cutoff for a Wild Card spot. Prior to having their scheduled game in Boston suspended last night due to rain, Toronto had lost seven of its previous eight. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leads the team with a .288 batting average and he has caught fire over he last few days – from June 21-25, he hit .409 with three home runs in a span of 23 plate appearances. Former Yankee Isiah Kiner-Falefa has the next-highest average on the team at .281. A two-time AL hits leader and a .299 career hitter entering this season, Bo Bichette is batting just .233 and returned from the injured list Tuesday after recovering from a right calf strain. George Springer has an average of only .195. Some recent moves made by the team include releasing Dan Vogelbach and trading Cavan Biggio to the Dodgers.
Probable Starters
Carlos Rodón will take the ball for the Yankees tonight when he starts opposite José Berríos. Former Blue Jay Marcus Stroman is going to face his original team for the third time this season when he starts tomorrow’s game against Yusei Kikuchi. Nestor Cortes and Chris Bassitt are lined up for Saturday. Gerrit Cole will make his third start of the season when he works the finale Sunday; Toronto is going to counter with Kevin Gausman.
Major League Cricket Featuring MI New York
YES and Willow by Cricbuzz, which offers more live, streaming and on-demand cricket than any other sports service, have partnered on a deal to air seven matches featuring the defending Major League Cricket champion MI New York this upcoming MLC season. These matches will be available on both YES and the YES App, as well on Willow by Cricbuzz’s TV network and its streaming platform starting with next Friday’s season-opener pitting MI New York against the 2023 runners-up Seattle Orcas. Led by elite West Indian batter Kieron Pollard, MI New York is gearing up to defend its inaugural title.
To learn more about the team and the basics of cricket, check out this primer featuring Jimmy ‘Jomboy’ O’Brien breaking things down with Bob Lorenz: https://tinyurl.com/c5funh4w
The Story Of My Number
A show featuring some of your favorite Yankees greats just wrapped its first season and is streaming on the YES App! Hosted by Gracie Cashman, The Story of My Number presented by New York Lottery highlights pinstriped icons talking about their lives on and off the field through the prism of numbers. Episodes featuring Aaron Boone, Tino Martinez, Andy Pettitte, Don Mattingly, Nick Swisher and CC Sabathia are available. Additionally, on the YES App, other shows recently added include two editions of Home Plate New York – one featuring Harlem Globetrotters “Jet” Rivers and “Hot Shot” Swanson plus another featuring Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito and his agent Sean Stellato.