Game Threat: Jays (28-26) vs. Yankees (24-27)

Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

The last time Aaron Sanchez was scheduled to face the Yankees the Jays skipped him in the rotation, mostly to help manage his innings, though it was also suggested (by John Gibbons) that they wouldn’t mind having him avoid the lefty-heavy Yankee lineup.

I’ve mentioned Sanchez’s struggles with left-handed hitters in 2015 numerous times so far this season — and here I am doing it again! And ol’ Gibbers lent credence to it! But what this Game Threat presupposes about 2016 Sanchez is… maybe we should just drop it?

Aaron isn’t exactly mowing down left-handers like he’s… well… a left-hander. But he’s been entirely fine. Better than fine, even! Sanchez has faced the third-most left-handed batters in all of baseball this season, and in case you hadn’t noticed, he’s been doing pretty OK! Specifically, lefties have hit him to the tune of a .301 wOBA, which is just 52nd among 117 qualified starters, but certainly not bad for a right-hander, as he ranks just behind Felix Hernandez, Jacob deGrom, and Chris Archer, and just ahead of Corey Kluber and Jose Fernandez.

That’ll do!

Now the Jays just have to get to this damn Tanaka guy and we’re in business!

Despite my grousing about his signing in Pittsburgh five years ago, it turns out everybody loves Jason Grilli! And it turns out that he grew up a Jays fan, too. His dad, Steve, pitched at the end of his career in the Jays organization, and Jason grew up in Syracuse, NY, where the club had their Triple-A affiliate for a long time (per a John Lott tweet).

Sure, Yankees, 2016 A-Rod is gonna solve your problems.

Uh… I want to party with Ivan Nova.

Lastly, ICYMI, I’ve been added to the lineup for Thursday’s Pitch Talks event at the Phoenix in Toronto. I was told that Hazel Mae dropped out, and so naturally I’m the first person they thought of as a replacement! Ross Atkins will be there! (No word if Mark Shapiro will be above the stage pulling the strings. And Duane Ward and Pat Hentgen will be there, too! Plus a bunch of Jays media types. Tickets are still available, so check out the info at HomestandSports.com .

Aaaaand, Peterborough types: I’m also on the lineup for the June 20th show in my hometown, which will be at Boston Pizza (not the Chemong Road on — the other one). Check it out! Stephen Brunt, Jeff Blair, and Scott MacArthur will be there, too. Details and tickets, again, are at HomestandSports.com!

TV: Sportsnet

Next Game: Friday @ Red Sox, 7:10 PM ET

Jose Bautista(R) RF

Josh Donaldson(R) 3B

Edwin Encarnacion(R) DH

Michael Saunders(L) LF

Justin Smoak(S) 1B

Russell Martin(R) C

Devon Travis(R) 2B

Kevin Pillar(R) CF

Darwin Barney(R) SS

RHP Aaron Sanchez

Jacoby Ellsbury(L) CF

Brett Gardner(L) LF

Carlos Beltran(S) RF

Brian McCann(L) C

Mark Teixeira(S) 1B

Alex Rodriguez(R) DH

Didi Gregorius(L) SS

Chase Headley(S) 3B

Ronald Torreyes(R) 2B

RHP Masahiro Tanaka