Toronto @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( May 19, 2013 ) Toronto 0, NY Yankees 0

The New York Yankees are hanging around in the postseason race thanks in part to Alex Rodriguez. The former MVP attempts to lead the Yankees to another pair of wins when they host the Toronto Blue Jays in a doubleheader Tuesday. Rodriguez may be openly feuding with the New York front office through the media, but it certainly looked like he had the support of his teammates after getting hit by a pitch and then slamming a home run Sunday.

Brett Gardner, who was one of the first to rush out of the dugout in support of Rodriguez after the hit-by-pitch, delivered a go-ahead three-run triple in the 9-6 victory that gave the Yankees their sixth win in eight games. The Blue Jays are playing spoiler in the East, but after taking two of three from the first-place Boston Red Sox last week lost two of three to second-place Tampa Bay over the weekend. Toronto will get New York again in the final week of August and plays all four AL East foes in at least one series in September.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Esmil Rogers (3-7, 4.91 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Ivan Nova (6-4, 2.99)

Rogers is searching for his first win since June 18. The 28-year-old Dominican came close last time out, allowing one run on five hits in six innings, but the bullpen surrendered the lead before Toronto came back to beat Boston in extra innings. Rogers will be making his first start against New York after going 0-1 with a 2.16 ERA in seven relief appearances versus the Yankees.

Nova is aiming for his 13th straight appearance allowing three or fewer earned runs. The 26-year-old Dominican scattered three runs and 10 hits over 7 1/3 innings to earn a win against the Los Angeles Angels last week while striking out six. The last time Nova yielded more than three runs was at Toronto on April 21, when he was charged with four runs on seven hits and four walks in five innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees SS Derek Jeter (strained right calf) is taking live batting practice, but is not yet close to a return.

2. Toronto SS Jose Reyes (right knee soreness) missed the last two games and is day-to-day.

3. New York OF Ichiro Suzuki is three hits shy of 4,000 in his professional career between Japan and the major leagues.

PREDICTION: Yankees 5, Blue Jays 3