GDB 9.0: Kevin Gausman-led Blue Jays look for series win over Yankees

Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
By Zach Laing
Apr 6, 2024, 16:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 6, 2024, 16:21 EDT
The Toronto Blue Jays are looking to do something they haven’t yet in 2024: win a series.
They split their season-opening series against the Rays, which in and of itself could be considered a win, while getting crushed in two of three against the Astros.
Friday the Jays took game one against the New York Yankees in quite the fashion. They leaned on the work of Yusei Kikuchi, who hurled five and one-third scoreless innings and had Ernie Clement come off the bench in the top of the seventh to blast a game-winning home run. Insurance runs were added in the ninth, and for the first time since 1967, the Yankees were shut out in their home opener.
Today, they’ll look to carry that momentum over to game two of this three-game series against the Bronx Bombers. The Jays will send Kevin Gausman to the mound for his second start of the year, after throwing four and a one-third innings against the Rays last week.
First pitch: 7:05 p.m. EST. TV & Radio: Sportsnet.
Weather: “Winds a bit left to right, a bit out to right, 10-15mph.” – Kevin Roth, Rotogrinders.
Moneyline: TOR -102; NYY -114.
Spread: TOR -1.5 +160; NYY +1.5 -200.
Over/Under: o7.5 -102; u7.5 -120.
Spread: TOR -1.5 +160; NYY +1.5 -200.
Over/Under: o7.5 -102; u7.5 -120.
*Odds available at the time of writing. Odds subject to change.
Starting pitchers:
| Name | Team | GS | W | L | IP | ERA | xERA | ERA- | FIP | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kevin Gausman | TOR | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4.1 | 2.08 | 8.62 | 58 | 4.11 | 0.46 | 12.46 | 0.00 |
Clarke Schmidt | NYY | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5.1 | 5.06 | 6.36 | 142 | 3.74 | 1.31 | 8.44 | 0.00 |
Lineups:
The Jays will start Justin Turner at third base today, as Ernie Clement gets the start at second. Daniel Vogelbach will make his season debut as the designated hitter.
TORONTO:
- G Springer (R) RF
- V Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B
- B Bichette (R) SS
- J Turner (R) 3B
- D Vogelbach (L) DH
- E Clement (R) 2B
- D Varsho (L) LF
- B Serven (R) C
- K Kiermaier (L) CF
NEW YORK:
- G Torres (R) 2B
- J Soto (L) RF
- A Judge (R) CF
- A Rizzo (L) 1B
- G Stanton (R) DH
- A Verdugo (L) LF
- A Volpe (R) SS
- A Wells (L) C
- O Cabrera (S) 3B
Need to bide the time until first pitch?
Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio as the crew talks about all the happenings in Toronto and beyond.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.
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