The Toronto Blue Jays are doing everything they can to play themselves out of the playoffs after putting together a dismal August performance. The team went 7-16 through the month, falling 5 1/2 games back from Seattle and Detroit for the second spot in the American League wild card race. They nearly avoided dipping below .500 for the first time since May 14 after defeating the Boston Red Sox and now they have to try and build some momentum with Mark Buehrle on the mound.
Buehrle is 11-8 with a 3.41 ERA this season which is his highest ERA of the season. He gave up three runs in six innings against Tampa Bay. After snapping a nine-start winless streak, the pitcher has gone 0-1 in four starts in August with a 5.68 ERA. Against the Yankees he is even worse. Buehrle is 1-12 against the Yankees while being 0-10 with a 7.34 ERA in 15 starts dating back to 2004. To make matters worse, opponents are hitting .337 against him.
Going up against Buehrle should help the Yankees who are still running in three games back from Detroit in the wild card race. Derek Jeter has a nine-game hitting streak against the Blue Jays while batting .351. Ichiro Suzuki and Brett Gardner all have strong hitting success against the Blue Jays this season. However, they are coming off a rough game against Detroit where Jacoby Ellsbury went 1 for 4 as the team managed just five hits.
Chris Capuano will get the start for the Yankees as he still remains winless with the team. He is 0-2 with a 4.21 ERA in six starts with the team after getting traded. He recently gave up three runs in six innings to the Chicago White Sox. He did hold the Blue jays to just two runs in six innings back in July, but got handed the 6-4 loss.
