Toronto @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 4, 2010 ) Toronto 5, NY Yankees 7

With a winning streak at eight games and counting, there isn't much that could make the New York Yankees a happier bunch.

The return of A-Rod might do the trick.

Alex Rodriguez is expected to make his return from the disabled list Sunday as the Bronx Bombers wrap up their weekend series with the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. New York opened the three-game set with a 7-3 victory Friday, and extended their hot streak with a 7-5 triumph the following afternoon.

The recent hot streak has propelled the Yankees into sole possession of top spot in the American League East, 2 1/2 games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays. With those two teams facing off seven times before season's end, the Yankees figure to have a major advantage entering the final few weeks of the campaign.

New York has continued to roll despite not getting much from their starters so far in the series. Both Ivan Nova and Javier Vazquez failed to get through the fifth inning of their respective starts, surrendering eight combined runs between them.

Fortunately for both of them, the New York bullpen has been sensational against Toronto, limiting the potent Jays offense to just three hits over 8 2/3 scoreless innings while racking up 10 strikeouts.

The Yankee offense has also made things easier on its pitching staff, lighting up Jays starters Brandon Morrow and Mark Rzepczynski for 10 runs in their seven combined innings of work. Marcus Thames was the hero Saturday, belting a two-run homer in the seventh inning to break a 5-5 tie and send the Yankees to their 14th win in 18 games.

Getting Rodriguez back will make things even more difficult for opposing staffs. The 35-year-old third baseman was placed on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 21 with a calf injury, and performed well enough in a rehab session Saturday that the team is expected to activate him prior to Sunday's game.

Rodriguez has feasted on the Blue Jays in his career. He's hitting .299 against them all-time, and his 51 home runs versus Toronto is the second-most he has hit against any team.

The Blue Jays send left-hander Brett Cecil (11-7) to the hill in the series finale. Cecil has faced the Yankees three times this season and has fared well, going 2-0 with a sparkling 1.64 ERA over 22 innings.

He last faced them 11 days ago, scattering two runs on seven hits over eight solid innings in a 6-3 Toronto victory.

The Yankees counter with talented right-hander Phil Hughes (16-6), who fell to Cecil in their Aug. 25 meeting. Hughes was yanked after just three innings, charged with five runs on six hits and a season-high five walks.

He matched that total in his next start but managed to limit the Oakland Athletics to just two run on four hits in a game the Yankees won 9-3. New York has been careful to limit Hughes' innings in the second half of the season, a major reason why he hasn't pitched into the seventh inning since July 9.

Hughes is 2-2 for his career against Toronto, with a 4.35 ERA in 51 2/3 innings.