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Blue Jays-Yankees Preview

Aug 11, 2009 - 5:07 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Toronto (53-57) at New York (69-42), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Success against relievers helped give the New York Yankees some breathing room in the AL East. Suddenly, though, the Toronto Blue Jays' bullpen has reason to be confident against what had been the league's hottest team.

After having a seven-game winning streak snapped, the Yankees look to bounce back from a poor effort at the plate as they continue a three-game home set with the Blue Jays on Tuesday night.

New York (69-43) entered this series fresh off a four-game sweep of Boston, but its momentum was stopped Monday night in a 5-4 series-opening loss to Toronto (54-57).

"That's going to happen," New York manager Joe Girardi told the team's official Web site. "We're not going to be perfect."

Still, the Yankees have a 5 1/2-game lead over the Red Sox, a team they had not beaten in eight games this year before a 13-6 victory Thursday night. New York prevailed thanks in part to its success against a usually strong Boston bullpen, which had an 8.22 ERA in the series.

Toronto relievers, meanwhile, had a 5.40 ERA in seven games this season against New York prior to Monday, when they were able to shut out the Yankees for 5 2-3 innings. The Blue Jays' bullpen has a 2.28 ERA over its last eight games.

Toronto needed relief early in Scott Richmond's last outing. Richmond (6-6, 3.97 ERA), set to take his turn in the Blue Jays' rotation Tuesday, lasted three innings July 31 in one of the worst starts of his career.

Making his first start since a month-long stay on the disabled list with a sore throwing arm, the rookie right-hander gave up six runs and seven hits as Toronto lost 8-5 to Oakland.

This will be Richmond's first appearance against the Yankees.

Toronto will need a big game at the plate if Richmond falters again, but won't have two-time All-Star Alex Rios in the lineup after he was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox on Monday.

Toronto does not receive compensation, but will get some financial relief entering the offseason with Chicago assuming his entire contract. Rios signed a seven-year deal with the Blue Jays in April 2008 that guarantees him nearly $70 million.

"As I told him, it's not like someone didn't want him," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said. "There was a team over there that really wanted him and I'm sure that he will do well."

In its first game without Rios, Toronto got homers from Lyle Overbay and Aaron Hill to win three straight for the first time since June 21-24. The Blue Jays haven't won four in a row since sweeping the White Sox from May 15-18.

The Blue Jays were able to take advantage of a matchup with struggling Yankees starter Sergio Mitre, but Joba Chamberlain (8-2, 3.73) should present a tougher challenge.

Chamberlain has won his last four starts and five straight decisions. He hasn't lost since June 18, against Washington.

The right-hander, though, walked a career-high seven in his last outing, surrendering four runs in five innings of New York's 13-6 win over Boston on Thursday night. He had posted a 0.83 ERA in his previous three starts.

Chamberlain is 0-1 with a 4.97 ERA in three career starts versus the Blue Jays.