Toronto @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 25, 2013 ) Toronto 3, NY Yankees 5

Only two Toronto Blue Jays pitchers have managed a seven-inning stint this year. Josh Johnson will try for his second long outing of the season as he leads the sputtering Blue Jays into the resumption of their four-game weekend series with the host New York Yankees on Friday. Toronto fell five games below .500 with Thursday's series-opening 5-3 loss, a game in which the Blue Jays managed one hit after the second inning. The defeat dropped Toronto to 1-3 against New York in 2013.

Johnson may be the man to get the Blue Jays back on the winning track, but he'll need to be much better than he was in his last encounter with the Yankees. The hard-throwing right-hander was tagged for four runs in 5 1/3 innings five days ago, his third shaky outing in four starts. He'll face off against Ivan Nova, who is dealing with his own early season problems. Nova has failed to last longer than five innings in any start and may be demoted if he doesn't improve.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Josh Johnson (0-1, 6.86 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Ivan Nova (1-1, 6.14)

Johnson is still looking for his first victory as a Blue Jay after leaving last week's outing trailing 4-2. He settled for a no-decision as Toronto jumped ahead shortly after his departure, leaving him winless in his last seven starts dating back to last season. One good sign from his two most recent performances: a return to normal velocity after a slower fastball in a loss in Detroit left some wondering if he was having arm issues. Johnson is 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA in two career starts against New York.

With Michael Pineda (shoulder) expected back sometime in midseason, someone in the New York rotation will likely have to move out to make room. Nova is a prime candidate for a diminished role as he struggles to regain the form that buoyed him to a 16-win season in 2011. Right-handed hitters have crushed the 26-year-old, hitting .452 against him in 35 at-bats. Nova opposed Johnson in his last outing and also earned a no-decision after surrendering four runs on seven hits over five innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees SS Derek Jeter told the media Thursday he would not set a timetable for his return from a serious ankle injury suffered in last year's playoffs, but vowed he would return to the field sometime this season.

2. New York leads the American League with 31 home runs, while the Blue Jays are second with 28.

3. Toronto LF Melky Cabrera is 5-for-8 with two home runs and three RBIs lifetime against Nova.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 9, Yankees 5