Blue Jays-Yankees Preview By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer
In position to surpass the .500 mark for the first time since the second week of the season, the surging New York Yankees hope Ivan Nova can continue his success since joining the rotation earlier this month. The right-hander tries for a third consecutive winning start that would give the Yankees a seventh straight victory Wednesday night against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays. Thanks to six strong innings from Nathan Eovaldi and a home run from Carlos Beltran in Tuesday's 6-0 victory, New York (22-22) owns a 32-11 scoring advantage in the last six games. Winners in 14 of 20, the Yankees haven't been above .500 since they were 4-3. "When things are going bad, you set your sights to get back to .500 and then you go from there," third baseman Chase Headley said. "We've had to play really good baseball to get back here, but we're here and now we've got to keep going, keep building." New York starters have a 1.70 ERA during the winning streak. Nova (3-1, 3.26 ERA) earned a fourth consecutive start after going 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA in three since moving from the bullpen May 9. "When you're starting, if you don't have it in the first inning you can have it in the second inning," said Nova, who went 1-1 with a 5.14 ERA in six relief appearances. "This is my natural position and I feel good about it." He's allowed a run in each start after giving up four hits with no walks Thursday over a season-high six innings in a 4-1 victory at Oakland. "He's pitching great," said manager Joe Girardi, who could employ a six-man rotation with Luis Severino set to return from a stint on the disabled list due to a triceps strain. Nova, 5-4 with a 5.14 ERA in 13 starts against the Blue Jays (22-25), was roughed up for four runs and five hits in an inning of out of the bullpen during a 7-2 loss to them April 13. Josh Donaldson is 7 for 16 against Nova, while Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion are batting a combined .340 with three doubles and a home run each. Bautista, batting leadoff, and Troy Tulowitzki had the only hits Tuesday. Beltran is 10 for 21 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in the last five games. Three of his seven hits in 24 at-bats against Marco Estrada (1-2, 2.61) have left the park. After giving up four earned runs and walking four in six innings at Texas on May 14, the right-hander yielded one earned and struck out nine while walking one over a season-high eight of Thursday's 3-2, 11-inning victory at Minnesota. "He's got a nice mix," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "He knows how to pitch." Starlin Castro is 12 for 27 with four doubles and a triple against Estrada and Brian McCann is 8 for 20. All three of Mark Teixeira's hits in nine at-bats against him went for home runs. The impending return of Alex Rodriguez (hamstring) from the disabled list continues to drag on for the Yankees. The underachieving designated hitter played for Double-A Trenton on Tuesday, but he might not be activated for this series. Batting .194, Rodriguez last saw major league action May 3. "Our plan is a couple of days," Girardi said. "Again, we can change our mind. We're allowed to do that. And if he feels good after two days, I wouldn't hesitate to call him here." |