Yankees vs. Blue Jays Prediction: Robbie Ray’s Cy Young-Worthy Season Faces Ultimate Test
By Peter Dewey
The Toronto Blue Jays are still alive in the American League wild card race.
The Jays blew a 4-0 lead against the New York Yankees on Wednesday, but a Bo Bichette homer propelled the Jays to a 6-5 win and helped them move within a game of the final spot in the American League wild card race.
Toronto has the luxury of playing the lowly Baltimore Orioles the final three games of the season, so it could put itself in a great position to make the postseason with a win over the Yankees in Thursday’s series finale.
It gets better for the Jays, as Cy Young candidate Robbie Ray (13-6, 2.68 ERA) will toe the rubber for Toronto against New York’s Corey Kluber (5-3, 3.82 ERA).
WynnBET Sportsbook has the Jays as -150 favorites with the total set at 8.5 runs. The under on the total is juiced at -120 odds compared to the over at +100.
Blue Jays vs. Yankees Prediction and Pick
This is a huge test for Ray, who has struggled against the Yankees so far this season. In two starts against New York, Ray allowed seven runs (six earned) over 9.2 innings. Granted, both starts came prior to the month of June.
The Jays lost both of those matchups, and they’ve actually struggled in games where Ray doesn’t pick up a decision. The Jays have a 4.09 bullpen ERA, and it’s caused them to go just 4-8 when Ray isn’t granted the decision in the game. Overall, Toronto is 17-14 in Ray’s starts this season.
As for the Yankees, Kluber is making his fifth start since returning from the injured list in late August. New York has won the veteran’s last three outings, but he hasn’t looked sharp in two of them, failing to get through five innings.
Kluber was injured in his start against Toronto on May 25 and has allowed seven runs (six earned) in 11 innings against the Jays this season (three starts).
After Gerrit Cole imploded on Wednesday night, this is a chance for Ray to prove he’s the rightful Cy Young award winner in the American League. I’m going to back him to lead the Jays to a win in this one.
Should the Yankees now be worried about Gerrit Cole starting the AL Wild Card Game should they make it that far? He hasn't looked like himself since suffering that hamstring injury.https://t.co/zjTu6Qo8Em
— Yanks Go Yard (@YanksGoYardFS) September 30, 2021
Kluber has been shaky since returning, and the Jays have too good of an offense (league-best .791 OPS) for me to trust that this is the game he turns things around.
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