logo
Series Preview: Blue Jays host Yankees for crucial three-game series
alt
Photo credit: © Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jun 12, 2026, 15:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 12, 2026, 14:40 EDT
Comments
Somehow, some way, the Toronto Blue Jays need to find a way to win their weekend series against the New York Yankees.
The Blue Jays are in the midst of a nine-game home stand, and it feels like a make-or-break type of stretch. They managed to take two of three from the Baltimore Orioles last weekend, but dropped two of three to the Philadelphia Phillies during the week. They certainly had their chances to win, but went 2-19 when runners were in scoring position.
So they’re right back where they started home stand, three games below .500 with a 33-36 record. By no means is the season over, especially with the team starting to get healthy. Shane Bieber had a great rehab start on Thursday, and Alejandro Kirk may be activated ahead of the series opener.
On top of the team beginning to get healthy, the Jays are just a game and a half behind the final wild card spot. The same cannot be said for the division race, as they’re currently nine games behind both the Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays, who are on a four-game and three-game winning streaks respectively.
You know the story by now, the Yankees blew an eight-game division lead, which was capped off by the Blue Jays sweeping them in a four-game series during the Canada Day series. While that won’t happen in this weekend series, a three-game sweep would give them some hope in the division race. At the very least, they need to take two of three from the Bronx Bombers.
Let’s take a look at the Yankees.

Examining the Yankees

The Yankees are the same as they’ve always been, a power hitting team with strong pitching. This season, their 97 home runs are the most in baseball, while their 114 wRC+ is the second-highest, only behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. Big power leads to a lot of swing and miss, and the Yankee’s 22.9 K% is tied for the eighth-highest in baseball. They make up for that with an MLB-best 11.3 BB%.
If a team can somehow shut down their offence, they still have to worry about finding a way to score runs. Through 67 games, Yankees’ starting pitching has a 3.17 ERA and 3.52 FIP, both the second-best in baseball. Their 23.9 K% ranks tied for fifth-best, while Yankees starting pitching has a 6 BB%, the lowest mark in baseball. Additionally, their starting pitching has given up just 36 home runs, tied for the fourth-fewest in MLB.
While not as good as their starting pitching, it doesn’t get much easier when a Yankee starter is knocked out of the game. Their relievers currently have a 3.41 ERA (seventh-best) and 3.69 FIP (tied for ninth-best). They sit middle of the pack in strikeout rate, 22.3%, while the Yankees’ bullpen has a 8.8 BB%, good to be tied for seventh-best. On top of all that, they’ve surrendered just 21 home runs, tied for the third-fewest.

One player to watch: Cam Schlittler

Even with Aaron Judge in the lineup, Cam Schlittler has been the Yankees’ best player this season.
Over his 14 starts, the 25-year-old righty has a 1.87 ERA and 2.11 FIP in 82 innings pitched. Only three pitchers with 50 or more innings pitched have a better ERA, Shohei Ohtani, Jacob Misorowski, and Cristopher Sánchez. Schlittler’s FIP of 2.11 is tied with Tarik Skubal for third-best in MLB, behind Sánchez and Misiorowski.
That said, the Blue Jays have found some success against the Yankees’ ace. Over his three starts, the hard-throwing righty has given up eight earned runs in 12.2 innings of work, giving him a 5.68 ERA. Earlier this season, Schlitter gave up two earned runs over six innings of work, being tagged with the loss, as the Yankees fell 2-1.
The Jays need that type of game once again.

Quick Hits

  • Last time the Jays played the Yankees, the two teams split the four-game series. I also put Aaron Judge as the “one player to watch”, but he remains out with an injury for this series.
  • Even without Judge, they’re a strong offensive team. Ben Rice is having a nice breakout season, hitting 18 home runs in 265 plate appearances, good for a 174 wRC+. Paul Goldschmidt has continued to punish left-handed pitcher, posting a 149 wRC+, while Cody Bellinger has a 136 wRC+. Amed Rosario, Trent Grisham, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. all have a wRC+ above 100.
  • While the Jays run into Cam Schlittler, they’ll avoid Max Fried (injury), Carlos Rodón, and Gerrit Cole. Instead, Ryan Weathers starts Friday’s game and Will Warren starts Sunday’s game.
  • As I write this on Friday afternoon, no roster moves have been made yet. However, it’s expected that Alejandro Kirk will be activated ahead of the series opener, with the corresponding move likely to be Tyler Heineman DFA’d
  • On top of that, all games have “TBD” listed for Blue Jays’ starters. There’s a good chance it’ll be Trey Yesavage on Friday, Kevin Gausman on Saturday, and likely Patrick Corbin on Sunday.
  • Friday’s game has the rather unusual start time of 7:37 PM ET. This is due to the fact that Toronto is also hosting the World Cup, with Canada’s game against Bosnia and Herzegovina beginning at 3:00 PM ET. Go Canada.

Probable pitchers

Friday: TBD/Ryan Weathers
Saturday: TBD/Cam Schlittler
Sunday: TBD/Will Warren

Game times

Friday: 7:37 PM ET
Saturday: 3:07 PM ET
Sunday: 1:37 PM ET
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

CHECK OUT OFF THE ROSTER – NEW EPISODES EVERY WEEKDAY

Off The Roster is Toronto sports. Hosted by Cabbie Richards, Lindsay Dunn, and Dan Riccio, this is the go-to morning conversation for everything happening in the 6ix – Hockey, Baseball, Basketball and everything in between. From breakout performances and questionable trades to throwback jerseys, viral moments, and the stories fans are actually talking about—it’s smart, sharp, and never scripted. Live weekday mornings on the Nation Network YouTube channel and available wherever you stream podcasts, the show delivers real opinions, real chemistry, and real Toronto energy. Missed an episode? Catch up anytime. Off The Roster—The new sound of the 6ix.
News
MORE NEWS. IN YOUR INBOX.
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Breaking News