Toronto @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 17, 2018 ) Toronto 5, NY Yankees 7

The New York Yankees need to see a strong performance out of struggling ace Luis Severino when they continue a three-game series against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. Severino is coming off his shortest outing of the year - a four-inning stint against the New York Mets on Monday - and has seen his ERA rise from 1.98 at the beginning of July to 3.27.

He will hope for some of the run support the Yankees provided in a rain-shortened 7-5 win to open the series Friday night. Giancarlo Stanton homered for the sixth time in 11 games and Neil Walker slugged a three-run shot as New York improved to 8-4 since its ugly four-game sweep at Fenway Park earlier this month. The Yankees also moved to 10-4 against the Blue Jays to clinch the season series for the first time since 2014. Toronto blew a 4-0 lead in Friday's seven-inning affair and will turn to rookie right-hander Sean Reid-Foley on Saturday.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, Sportsnet (Toronto), TVA (Toronto), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Sean Reid-Foley (0-1, 5.40 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Luis Severino (15-6, 3.27)

Reid-Foley allowed three runs and six hits with three walks and three strikeouts over five innings in his major-league debut Monday at Kansas City. A second-round pick in the 2014 draft, he was 12-4 with a 2.98 ERA in 23 starts in the minors this year. He fanned 94 batters while allowing 68 hits across 82 1/3 innings at Triple-A Buffalo.

Severino has just one quality start in his last seven turns and owns a 7.50 ERA in that span. The rocky stretch began when he gave up three runs in five innings but picked up the win at Toronto on July 7. The 24-year-old has a 4.25 ERA in 10 career matchups (nine starts) with the Blue Jays and has been victimized by first baseman Justin Smoak, who is 7-for-18 with two homers and a double against Severino.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees All-Star RF Aaron Judge (wrist) played catch Friday but was unable to take dry swings due to some soreness, manager Aaron Boone told reporters.

2. Blue Jays C Luke Maile was placed on the paternity list and OF Billy McKinney, who was traded from New York to Toronto in the J.A. Happ deal last month, was brought up from Triple-A Buffalo.

3. The Yankees will have a pregame ceremony to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 1998 team that won 114 games in the regular season before winning the World Series over San Diego.

PREDICTION: Yankees 7, Blue Jays 4