Toronto @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2019 ) Toronto 2, NY Yankees 7

The New York Yankees have not lost a series at home since mid-April and can extend that unbeaten streak to 23 in a row when they host the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon in the final regular-season game at Yankee Stadium. New York rebounded from a 4-3 loss in Friday's series opener to halt Toronto's five-game winning streak with a 7-2 romp on Saturday.

Giancarlo Stanton, in his third game since returning from an absence of nearly three months, homered among two hits as New York remained in pursuit of Houston for the best record in the American League. Brett Gardner has hit safely in eight straight games overall and 12 in a row versus the Blue Jays to help the Yankees improve to 53-20 versus the AL East - the most wins by any team within the division since baseball realigned to six divisions in 1994. While New York is 19-0-3 at home since losing two of three to Chicago from April 12-14, the Blue Jays are seeking a fourth consecutive series win and their second over New York in that span. Rookie Cavan Biggio has at least a hit in five straight and nine of 10 games for Toronto, which is 8-10 in the season series.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Trent Thornton (5-9, 4.93 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Luis Severino (0-0, 0.00)

Thornton has allowed only two earned runs in three appearances during September, although he had to settle for a no-decision at Baltimore on Tuesday when he limited the Orioles to one run and three hits over five innings. The rookie was even better in his previous turn, not allowing a hit and striking out seven in five scoreless frames against Boston. DJ LeMahieu is 3-for-7 against Thornton, who has a 6.28 ERA in three outings versus the Yankees but tossed six innings of one-run ball in a loss to them on Aug. 11.

With 18-game winner Domingo German likely out for the season due to a domestic violence probe, Severino's second start of the season takes on added importance as the Yankees look ahead to the playoffs. A 19-game winner a year ago, Severino was sidelined for most of the season due to rotator cuff and lat injuries but had a strong 2019 debut on Tuesday with four scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels. Severino won all four starts against Toronto a year ago, but Justin Smoak is 8-for-21 with two homers off him.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees 2B Gleyber Torres had an MRI exam on Saturday on his right hamstring that came back negative.

2. The Blue Jays struck out 15 times Saturday, the 75th game this season with double-digit whiffs.

3. Prior to Sunday's game, the Yankees will honor retiring LHP CC Sabathia, who is scheduled to pitch twice in relief next week.

PREDICTION: Yankees 7, Blue Jays 3