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Struggling aces set to square off in the Bronx

Jul 17, 2007 - 3:06 PM Toronto (45-47) at NY Yankees (46-44) 7:05 pm EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays have both underachieved this season, but up until a few weeks ago, their aces starters could at least be counted on for a solid outing.

Andy Pettitte and Roy Halladay will try to get back on track when the Yankees host the Blues Jays on Tuesday.

Pettitte (5-6, 4.27 ERA) earned a win at Tampa Bay last Thursday, allowing three runs in 5 2/3 innings. Including that outing, the veteran lefthander is 1-2 with a 9.00 ERA over his past five starts.

He allowed more than three earned runs just once in his first 13 appearances, but has yielded four or more in five of his last eight outings.

Halladay (10-4, 4.66) has been similarly ineffective of late, posting a 2-2 record with a 6.85 ERA over his last four starts. The 2003 Cy Young winner was bailed out by an offense that put up eight runs in each of those two wins.

He has been sharp in his career against New York, owning a 9-4 mark with a 3.09 ERA in 23 games - 21 starts - in his career.

The Yankees have won four of five games since the All-Star break to move two games over .500 for the first time since June 19. They posted a 6-4 triumph over Toronto on Monday in the opener of the four-game series.