Game of the Week: June 24: TOR @ NYY

[Commissioner Erick]

Toronto Blue Jays (47-31) @ New York Yankees (31-48)


TOR: Chris Frude (1-0, 0.00)
NYY: Alba Covi (1-3, 6.53)


Blue Jays 3 Key Stats

7.2: Scoreless innings by Chris Frude in his major league debut: Frude will take the ball tonight for his second start after dominating the Angels in his debut. He allowed just three hits, walked one, and whiffed nine in a dominant outing. Frude allowed 11 fly ball outs versus three ground ball outs, so he did get lucky on fly balls, but the return for Eric Walker looked like he belonged in a very confident debut. The Yankees are an upgrade on the Angels though, so it will be fascinating to see how Frude fares with the opponent upgrade.

.335: Ernesto Montemayor’s batting average: Montemayor crushed it in Triple-A to start the year, and kept hitting after being called up to Toronto. He also has 12 doubles, 15 homers, and 40 RBIs despite only playing in 40 games so far. While he signed a nearly $5 million contract to join Toronto back in 2024, he’s largely been fairly unheralded as a prospect. He’s hit everywhere though, earning an All-Star nod in the Northwest League in 2028, consistently getting promoted up the ladder. Now Toronto has a star on its hands, coming off a recently ended 22-game hitting streak.

3: Number of expected starting players for Toronto who started the majority of their games last year. With Taylor Walls and Pal Khan injured and their status today up in the air, only three starters from last year’s club are expected to start today. Jelfry Marte is still plying his trade at Shortstop as one of the best defenders in the league. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continues to bounce around the field a bit, but he’s still mashing wherever he plays. After a demotion to Triple-A, Cortez Castaneda is back to starting at DH after a lengthy trip to the minors. Hector Jimenez started some in the second half last year, and Tweet McDade was a key member of the 2028 Blue Jays playoff team, but it’s a roster largely turned over, or at the least, overcoming injured players from last year. Despite that, Toronto is back atop the AL East and looking to make another deep run similar to 2028.


Yankees 3 Key Stats

10: Number of pitchers to start a game for the Yankees this year. Alba Covi gets the ball today, a fringy Italian with only two reliable pitches nonetheless thrust over his head into the starting rotation. Covi throws a hard fastball and a hard cutter, but has no real offspeed pitch. As a result, while he limits homers, he doesn’t strike anyone out. He’s walked 17 and whiffed eight in 30.1 innings. Covi doesn’t have much of a track record as a successful starting pitcher in full season ball, though his ability to limit homers played well in Trenton earlier this year.

3.29: New York’s bullpen ERA: The Yankees bullpen has been reliable. Longtime arm Silvino Bracho has the highest ERA currently in the pen—at 3.25. It’s mostly an all-righty pen, but that’s been all right with New York. Ryan DiSibio has excelled as the closer, not yielding a homer, saving 11 games, and working to a 2.43 ERA. The setup guys have been elite as well. Erik Owen has a 1.91 ERA as an elite bullpen weapon, and ruined starter Luis Villareal has agreed with the bullpen this year, turning in a 2.57 ERA despite missing time with a strained hamstring. Any lead the Yankees carry late has a good chance to turn into a win.

-0.3: Yunior Severino’s WAR as a Yankee: New York gave Severino a 7-year contract ahead of the 2028 season as Severino was in his prime. However, the consistent numbers he put up in Baltimore and Arizona did not travel to New York. His season numbers are all very similar. A batting average in the .220s or.230s, low double digit homers, no walks, steals, or doubles. His OPS+ the last three years are all remarkably consistent—75, 74, and 75. Under contract for four more years, the Yankees need to get more out of him to field a winning team.


Questions for the GMs:


For Aaron Dunham, will we see Pal Khan today or will he get more rehab time for you with Tweet McDade doing affair job?

Bobby O Keefe strained his ribs. He says he can play through it, but will this require an IL stint?

You signed Rogelio Mendizibal to an in-season contract. Have you liked what you’ve gotten out of the ashen faced one so far?

For Terry Kift, you’ve run through a few starting pitchers so far with a lot of injuries befalling your staff. Why have you settled on Covi as your next man up?

Do you feel Yunior Severino has the bat to provide plus offense at First Base?

Your team is last in steals but first in baserunning. What’s your strategy on the bases with this group?


TRIVIA: Who is the only Yankees First Baseman to lead the American League in homers?

[torontogm]

1) Kahn is back on the ML club, but as a backup. He’s had a rough year and McDade has been fine in his place.

2) O’Keefe is, indeed going to the IL (at least if I remember correctly)

3) Mendizibal has been great. I’m very happy to have production out of the catcher spot. But I’m frustrated I had to sign him to get it. I would’ve liked it if Hunt played better

[Commissioner Erick]

Yankees 5 - Blue Jays 4 (11)


WP: J. Carter (1-2)
LP: M. Gaytan (0-1)


The New York Yankees picked up a win at Yankee Stadium, knocking off the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-4. On the mound for New York was left-hander Alba Covi, who played a pivotal role in the win. The win belongs to Jon Carter in relief. His record improves to 1-2. Mike Gaytan took the loss for Toronto. The win has New York at 32-48.

The game was decided with one out in the bottom of the 11th. With New York trailing 4-3, Justin Cooke hit a cutter from Mike Gaytan to left-center for a 2-run double. Just like that, the Yankees had a walk-off win.

Covi called the triumph "a good team win."


Questions for the GMs:


For Aaron Dunham, Frude was a little more hittable today, but still was effective. Have you liked what you've seen from the youngster?

Ernesto Montemayor has been crushing the ball, but he was pinch hit for by Cortez Castaneda in the eighth. Castaneda doubled in a run and was eventually replaced by Pal Khan. In hindsight the moves worked, but did you agree with them at the time?

Your bullpen went with the righty Jorge Cardenas to face the lefty Mark Ward, then brought in lefty Eric Groves to face Francisco DeJesus who was pinch hit for by Omer de Vos. Would you have simply let Groves start the inning?

For Terry Kift, did you agree with he decision to pinch hit de Vos for your slugger Francisco de Jesus?

The first run Toronto scored came when you shifted hard against Rogelio Mendizibal and he blooped a fly ball to the right side that normally would have been caught. Did you agree with the decision to shift there instead of playing in double play depth?

You moved Shane Shifflett to the bench after he had a terrible start to the year. He was bad for you last year, but you signed him to a four-year deal. What did you see in him to ink him to the contract?


TRIVIA: Who is the only Blue Jays first round pick to earn an All-Star appearance with Toronto?

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 1: Ben correctly guessed Francisco DeJesus

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 2: Luke correctly guessed Taylor Walls