Catcher Danny Jansen is expected to return to the Toronto lineup Tuesday night when the Blue Jays go for a series-clinching victory over the visiting New York Yankees.
Jansen opened the season on the injured list after suffering a fractured right wrist when hit by a pitch during a spring training game on March 13. He was activated Monday but did not play as fellow catcher Alejandro Kirk had two hits, a walk and an RBI in a 3-1 victory over the Yankees in the opener of the three-game series.
Jansen will wear special padding to protect his hands because of the way he swings. He has been prone to hand injuries.
“I’m going to wear guards on both hands and have protection,” said Jansen, who batted .228 with 17 homers and 53 RBIs last season. “I’ve got to do it. Happy to do it. I don’t really want to change my swing. I’ve just got to be padded up now.”
Jansen will be behind the plate for left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (0-1, 2.30 ERA) on Tuesday, while the Yankees are scheduled to start left-hander Carlos Rodon (1-0, 1.72).
Kikuchi pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings April 5 against the Yankees, allowing four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in his team’s 3-0 win. In 13 career outings (11 starts) against the Yankees, he is 4-3 with a 3.24 ERA.
Rodon is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in four career starts against Toronto.
The Blue Jays are 5-2 on their homestand that will end Wednesday and have won three in a row for the first time this season.
The Yankees have lost two straight games for the first time this season.
Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt continued his success against the Yankees on Monday. He held New York to one run over 6 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and two walks with five strikeouts.
“He is the epitome of the kitchen sink,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “He’ll throw everything. He will make things up on the fly. He’s very good at coming up with different pitches, so it’s hard to really get a bead on him. And he has pretty good command with everything. That sinker’s his bread and butter that he gets to, but he’ll mix in the slow curve. He’ll change speeds on the slider. He’ll cut the ball. He mixes it up just about as good as anyone.”
Yankees right-hander Luis Gil was erratic, walking seven in five innings in Monday’s loss. He allowed three runs and three hits with six strikeouts.
“Definitely not my night tonight,” Gil said. “It’s hard to give you an exact answer on why. I’m going to be sitting down with our pitching coach and going over video to find an answer. A couple of things could affect yourself on a night like that. Could be mechanics or overthrowing a little bit at times.”
“Just a tough night,” Boone said. “Credit to him for being able to get through five. I mean, it’s a testament to just how good his stuff is and how hard he is to hit. Almost anyone else goes out there and does that — they’re hanging seven, eight, nine (runs) on you.”
–Field Level Media