Yankees Weekly Watch: Flying Angels and Blue Jays visit the Bronx

The New York Yankees get to stay home this week in the Bronx as they battle the Los Angeles Angels and Toronto Blue Jays back-to-back.

The New York Yankees get to stay home this week to go against a pair of high-flying playoff contenders. Thus far, we’ve seen the Yankees do pretty much what has been expected. There has been good. There has been bad.

As they try to play catchup with the remarkably unstoppable Tampa Bay Rays, the Yankees will turn their attention to two tough opponents with plenty of star power on their rosters.

The climb upward to keep pace with the Rays begins after an off-day on Monday, April 17.

DIRECTV carries the most local MLB games, so die-hard baseball fans with the CHOICE package or higher can stay connected to their teams all season long with their regional sports networks, where available (Blackouts and additional fees may apply). 

Here’s what Yankees fans should be watching for this week:

Apr. 18 Yankees vs. Angels

A well-rested Yankees team resumes their homestand against the visiting Los Angeles Angels. Former Yankees third base coach Phil Nevin will look to take down his old employer and friend, Aaron Boone. The pitching matchup projects to be Clarke Schmidt against Jose Suarez. Schmidt has yet to factor into the decision but an early inflated 8.44 ERA after 3 starts and 10.2 innings doesn’t have Yankees fans confident in his abilities. Luckily, Suarez has been a mess, too. After a pair of starts, he’s 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA. It’s a game for Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani to go yard.

Apr. 19 Yankees vs. Angels

Jhony Brito could get the ball for the Yankees in this one but after a weak performance his last time on the mound, fans aren’t so eager to see him get the nod. It’s another opportunity for the Angels lineup to rattle the Yankees pitchers. Although it’s Ohtani and Mike Trout who make the headlines, former Yankees infielder Gio Urshela is sure to cause trouble in his own way, too. He has been one of the hottest Angels hitters to begin the season. Although not quite as powerful as many others the team features, he does damage in his own way.

Apr. 20 Yankees vs. Angels

If Schmidt and Brito or whoever it is the Yankees start in the first two against the Angels don’t get the job done, Nestor Cortes is sure to put a stop to the mayhem. Through three starts he is now 2-0 with a 2.60 ERA. The Angels are right-handed heavy which could give him a little bit of trouble. So could the opposing pitcher, Patrick Sandoval. After three starts of his own, he is 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA. On paper, this game has the makings of a pitcher’s duel. Both lefties are off to superb starts to the season.

Apr. 21 Yankees vs. Blue Jays

The Yankees get to sleep in their own bed at night this week. After the Angels, they get a visit from the Toronto Blue Jays. It looked like they would be the biggest threat to the Yankees in the American League East this year. With the Rays swimming through the waters of the early part of 2023 with no problem, both of these ball clubs will look to play more catchup in this weekend series. The Blue Jays have gotten a monster start from third baseman Matt Chapman and it’s overshadowed how well Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette have hit. Even Kevin Kiermaier is playing great ball. This will not be an easy series. Expect a playoff atmosphere immediately.

Apr. 22 Yankees vs. Blue Jays

Our second taste of the 2023 Blue Jays on Saturday projects to be a huge battle of aces. Gerrit Cole and Alek Manoah are lined up to start in this one. The immediate thought might be that we’d get a low-scoring game. Considering the way both of these clubs can hit, it wouldn’t be surprising to see either or both pitchers get knocked around. This game is a cannot-miss as two favorites for the American League Cy Young Award are pitted against one another in an early potential playoff matchup.

Apr. 23 Yankees vs. Blue Jays

Will this be a rubber game or a chance at a sweep for one of the teams? The series concludes on Sunday before the Bronx Bombers have to head on the road to face the tougher-than-expected Minnesota Twins. A lot can change over a week. Will Franchy Cordero still be a New York sports folk hero? What will Anthony Volpe’s batting average look like? Sundays are often a day when some of the regulars sit. If Boone manages things well, we won’t get a lineup featuring Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Aaron Hicks. Spread their starts apart, please.