Toronto at New York 1:05 p.m. EDT

One of the few concerns facing the New York Yankees might be the recent performance of Hiroki Kuroda. 

While the Yankees look to complete a series sweep with an eighth consecutive home win over the Toronto Blue Jays, Kuroda tries to avoid a third straight subpar outing Wednesday afternoon. 

Kuroda (8-7, 3.67 ERA) went 5-1 with a 1.65 ERA in seven starts before he was roughed up for seven runs and 10 hits over 5 2-3 innings while not receiving a decision in a 10-8 win at Boston on July 6. Kuroda then returned from the All-Star break Friday to give up five runs and two homers in 7 1-3 innings while also not factoring in the decision of a 6-5 win over Los Angeles. 

Kuroda, however, has benefited from a potent lineup that's averaged 6.8 runs while he's gone 2-0 with a 4.00 ERA in his last four starts. 

Kuroda was not very tough on the Blue Jays when he allowed seven runs and three homers over five innings of an 8-1 loss May 16 at Rogers Centre. 

Jose Bautista homered off Kuroda in that game but the right-hander won't have to face the Toronto slugger, who went on the disabled list Tuesday after injuring his wrist in Monday's 6-3 loss to New York. 

Among the major league leaders with 27 home runs, Bautista did not suffer any structural damage and hopes to return when eligible to come off the DL. 

Without their star, the Blue Jays (45-46) were held scoreless through six innings by CC Sabathia and managed six hits in a 6-1 loss Tuesday.  

Toronto has been outscored 42-20 during its seven-game skid at Yankee Stadium. Edwin Encarnacion, however, has four doubles in the series and is 8 for 16 in his last four games in the Bronx. 

Andruw Jones hit a three-run homer and Derek Jeter had two hits with an RBI on Tuesday for the AL East-leading Yankees (56-34), who have won eight of 10 and are 35-13 since May 22. 

Jeter is a lifetime .321 hitter against Toronto at home but is 3 for 23 with a home run versus scheduled starter Ricky Romero (8-5, 5.03), who has lost a career-high four straight starts. 

After yielding 17 runs and nine walks in nine innings in consecutive starts June 27 and July 2, Romero has given up three runs on two homers over 12 innings of his last two, but the Blue Jays failed to score in either game. He gave up a homer in six innings of a 1-0 loss to Cleveland on Friday. 

He is 3-4 with a 5.02 ERA in 10 starts versus New York, losing his last two with a 6.17 ERA.



Blue Jays are 8-20 in their last 28 games as an underdog.
Blue Jays are 1-4 in their last 5 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Blue Jays are 1-6 in their last 7 road games.
Blue Jays are 0-4 in Romeros last 4 starts.


Yankees are 6-1 in their last 7 vs. American League East.
Yankees are 4-0 in Kurodas last 4 starts.
Yankees are 4-1 in Kurodas last 5 starts as a home favorite.

Under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.

Over is 4-1 in Romeros last 5 road starts vs. Yankees.

Blue Jays are 0-7 in the last 7 meetings in New York.

Romero gets killed when he comes to New York and that's what i expect again today. Plus the fact that their big hitter is side-lined just makes me want to play this even more. It will be my biggest play today. On the other hand you have Kuroda pitching in a Triple Up situation which is really good for him. His last time out with these guys didn't go so well for him. Today the Yankees get the win and the sweep of the Blue Jays. Going 1/2 unit on 1H and ML plays. 


1H NY YANKEES -½-125
NY YANKEES -161
NY YANKEES -1½+120 (best bet)

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