Toronto @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 19, 2018 ) Toronto 2, NY Yankees 10

The New York Yankees are closing in on a berth in the American League Wild Card Game, but they're in danger of having to play it on the road. The Yankees return from a 4-5 road trip that tightened up the race for the top wild-card spot to open up a nine-game homestand with the first of three against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.

New York (90-56) did not get a hit until the eighth inning in a 3-1 loss at Minnesota on Wednesday, and its lead on Oakland for the first wild card is down to 1 1/2 games with 16 to play. The Yankees are 12-4 against the Blue Jays in 2018, including 6-1 at home, and will have their hottest pitcher in Masahiro Tanaka on the mound for the opener. Toronto dropped all three at Boston to begin a nine-game road trip, scoring a total of five runs in the sweep at the hands of the Red Sox. The Blue Jays, who are one defeat away from clinching their second straight losing season, go with veteran Marco Estrada on Friday.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, TVA Sports (Toronto), WPIX (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Marco Estrada (7-11, 5.32) vs. Yankees RH Masahiro Tanaka (11-5, 3.61)

Estrada posted his first quality start in six turns with six innings of two-run ball in a no-decision against Cleveland last Friday. He held New York to four runs in 13 innings over two matchups at home earlier in the year but was tagged for five runs and seven hits - including three home runs - in five frames at Yankee Stadium on April 20. Giancarlo Stanton is 7-for-20 with four homers and three doubles against the 35-year-old Estrada.

Tanaka has been the Yankees' best pitcher for about two months and he was at his best last Friday at Seattle, where he tossed eight scoreless innings while striking out a season-high 10. He has a 2.35 ERA over his last 10 starts and has surrendered just one home run - an issue earlier in the year - over his last five appearances. The Japan native is 10-4 with a 2.86 ERA in 16 career starts against the Blue Jays.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees CF Aaron Hicks is 1-for-20 over his last five games.

2. Toronto is 23-40 against the AL East.

3. New York 3B Miguel Andujar is 8-for-21 during a five-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Yankees 6, Blue Jays 3