First place meets last place. The Yankees are 24 games over .500, the Jays 13 under. All-star Javier Vazquez, 6-2, 2.97 so far in the Stadium, has held all opponents to a .184 AVG there, and the Toronto bats haven't exactly been booming this season. Pat Hentgen has had a dreadful year, and returns from banishment to the bullpen only because of an emergency.
On paper, it's ridiculously one-sided. However, Vazquez hasn't lasted six innings in any of his three July starts and was roughed up by the Tigers in his latest. And Hentgen, never exactly a Yankee-killer, did make quite a remarkable second-half turnaround last year, including a win in the Bronx, after it looked like his career might be over. It could be worse for Pat; Derek Jeter and Jason Giambi aren't in the starting lineup. There's always hope, so they may as well play the game.
DH Frank Catalanotto makes his first start since June 17, in the 2-hole, bumping Eric Hinske (.359/.388/.484 in July) down to sixth, so it's the best-looking lineup card in a very long time for the Jays. Chris Gomez, 6-for-16 off Vazquez, starts at short. If and when Carlos Delgado emerges from his slump, team hitting may once again become contagious, but don't expect too much tonight -- the big man is 0-for-11 vs. Vazquez lifetime, with no walks and 4 whiffs.
A low-scoring game would be excellent. If Hentgen does get knocked out early, Bob File, the only reliever who wasn't used yesterday, will need to absorb as many innings as possible. Ligtenberg and Frasor have already pitched on consecutive days, and Adams worked 1.2 innings yesterday, so Speier might be next in line if a mopup man is required. Normally, I'm not an advocate of carrying 12 pitchers, but in a blowout after a 14-inning nailbiter, 11 isn't enough. Tonight at least, Mike Nakamura (or Kevin Frederick) would be far more useful than having three backup infielders.
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