Yankees at Blue Jays
The New York Yankees look to carry the momentum from a milestone moment in franchise history when they continue a 10-game road trip at the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night. Starlin Castro's two-run homer lifted the Yankees to a 2-1 victory at Tampa Bay on Sunday -- the first time since 1914 that New York won a game with just one hit.
"We really weren't doing much. We get a huge hit from Starlin," Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters after the win in which his team sent just 29 batters to the plate. New York first baseman Mark Teixeira came in as a defensive replacement Sunday after missing the past four games due to a neck injury and could be back in the lineup Monday. Toronto has won three straight series for the first time despite losing in 11 innings to Boston on Sunday to snap a four-game winning streak. Blue Jays right-hander Marco Estrada attempts to beat the Yankees and Ivan Nova for the second time in six days in the series opener.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, MLB Network, YES (New York), Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Ivan Nova (3-2, 3.65 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Marco Estrada (2-2, 2.76)
Nova hit his first speed bump as a member of the starting rotation against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, allowing four runs on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings to take the loss despite a season-high eight strikeouts. The 29-year-old Dominican had permitted one run in each of his first three starts since he was elevated from the bullpen, but he has served up a homer in four straight appearances. Nova is 5-6 with a 5.63 ERA lifetime against Toronto.
Estrada put an end to a seven-start winless drought by holding the Yankees to three runs -- two via solo homers -- and four hits over seven frames, marking his sixth straight outing of at least six innings pitched. It was also the seventh time in nine starts that the Mexico native permitted three runs or fewer and he evened his record against New York to 2-2 with a 4.19 ERA. Castro has been a nemesis for Estrada, going 12-for-29 with five extra-base hits.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Yankees are 6-0 when the bullpen trio of RHP Dellin Betances and LHPs Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman pitch in the same game.
2. Blue Jays RF Jose Bautista has homered four times during a nine-game hitting streak.
3. Yankees DH Alex Rodriguez is 1-for-16 with nine strikeouts since returning from the 15-day disabled list.