Jays at Yankees, 20-22 September

The Yankees clinched the division last night, but there probably aren't too many hangovers going into today's action.  As manager Aaron Boone said "we've got bigger fish to fry" and first would be trying to finish ahead of Houston and secure home field advantage if the AL comes down to a Yankees-Astros showdown. In the meantime, the hits keep coming. Starting pitcher Domingo German, their top winner (18-4) has been placed on administrative leave while MLB investigates domestic abuse allegations. With the 2019 Yankees there's always a next man to step up - in this case it's Luis Severino who made his season debut this week after being shelved all year with shoulder and lat issues. Severino had made three rehab appearances, working just 7.2 innings - he was still able to go four scoreless innings against the Angels (who are without Trout and Ohtani.) We should see him this weekend. We did see Dellin Betances finally make his season debut for the Yankees last weekend, after being out all season with a shoulder issue. And we know what happened - Betances struck out the two batters he faced, hopped off the mound, and hurt his Achilles tendon. His season is effectively over, as while he may be able to avoid surgery he will be in a walking boot for the next four weeks.

Do we feel sorry for them? I do not think we do. They're still the Yankees. They still remain the focus of evil in the modern world.

Aaron Judge sat last night, nursing a shoulder he banged up diving in the outfield, and it remains to be seen if he'll play tonight. If not - hey, Giancarlo Stanton is back in the lineup after two stints on the IL that took him out of the lineup for 68 and 74 games. Old friend J.A. Happ has been cleared to pitch tonight - Happ has been troubled by biceps tendinitis, which he says has bothered him for his last five starts. During which he has, mysteriously enough, pitched quite a bit better. 

Matchups! Both managers have made use of The Opener this season, so let's regard these guys as the Featured Pitcher. As of Friday morning.

Fri 20 Sep. Waguespack (4-5, 4.70) vs Happ (12-8, 5.07)

Sat 21 Sep. Zeuch (1-0, 4.61) vs Paxton (14-6, 3.88)

Sun 22 Sep. Thornton (5-9, 4.93) vs Severino (0-0, 0.00)

Magic Number: 1 - (any combination of Jays victories and Games Rained Out will ensure the team does not lose 100 games.)