Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s recent uptick at the plate helped the New York Yankees successfully start the season series with the Toronto Blue Jays after some frustrating experiences against their division rival last year.
Coming off a fourth straight multi-hit game and a clutch two-run homer, Chisholm and the Yankees still have the Blue Jays in their sights on Tuesday.
After losing eight of 13 meetings in the regular season and getting outscored by Toronto 34-19 in the four-game AL Division Series, the Yankees began this year’s season set by rallying and holding on for a 7-6 victory in on Monday.
“I feel like, especially losing to them in the playoffs, we got to have a different mindset when it comes to them,” Chisholm said. “Every time we see them, it’s like we have that feeling. At least I do, for sure, but I know a couple other guys in the clubhouse have that feeling of, ‘We owe you something, and we’re gonna show you what we got.'”
Chisholm snapped a 5-5 tie by clanging a two-run homer against Yariel Rodriguez off the left-field foul pole. Chisholm’s homer came in his fourth straight multi-hit game.
Chisholm’s surge gives him a .237 average entering Tuesday, and he has a hit in 13 of 16 games in May.
The blast was part of the three-homer night for the Yankees. Paul Goldschmidt hit a leadoff homer, and Cody Bellinger hit a tying two-run shot after a single by Aaron Judge.
Toronto, which is 5-9 in its past 14 games, is hoping for better relief work.
“Is it a tough ask? Yeah, it’s a tough ask to come in and get Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger, for sure, but you need everyone to step up on days when you’re a little bit thin,” Toronto manager John Schneider said.
George Springer homered for the Blue Jays. He also struck out in the ninth against David Bednar with a pair of runners on base. Springer is 7-for-41 in his past 10 games.
After Toronto used four relievers, Dylan Cease (3-1, 2.41 ERA) will get the start on Tuesday.
Cease, whose 75 strikeouts lead American League pitchers, is 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA and 26 strikeouts in his past three outings.
Cease received a no-decision against Tampa Bay on Wednesday despite allowing one run on three hits in seven innings against the Rays.
The right-hander is 1-2 with a 5.34 ERA in six career starts against the Yankees.
While pitching for the San Diego Padres on May 7, 2025, Cease carried a no-hitter for 6 2/3 innings before allowing a homer to Bellinger and wound up with a no-decision.
Will Warren (5-1, 3.42), who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in eight of nine starts, will get the start on Tuesday for the Yankees. Warren rebounded from allowing six runs on seven hits in four innings during a 6-1 loss to Texas on May 6 by allowing two runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings last Tuesday at Baltimore.
Warren is making his second career start against the Blue Jays, and he is hoping it goes much better than his first outing. In New York’s 11-9 loss at Toronto on July 2, the right-hander was shelled for eight runs on 10 hits in four innings.
–Field Level Media
