The Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees are set to begin an important three-game series between American League East rivals at Yankee Stadium Monday night

Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees

Toronto dropped back to .500 with a 3-2 home loss to Houston Sunday and manager John Farrell was upset at missed chances late in the game.  “We were 90 feet away from extending this game at the end,” Farrell commented.  “We continue to create opportunities.  We didn’t get a timely hit when needed.”  The Blue Jays went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base.  Toronto has still won eight of its last 11 games overall despite finishing up a 2-3 homestand.  Home runs expect to be a key factor in this series, as the club is second in the American League with 51 round trippers, sitting 20 behind the Yankees.  Toronto is 6-2 in its last eight games versus right-handed starters.

Blue Jays starting pitcher Carlos Villanueva will be making his first start of the season and 14th overall appearance Monday night.  The right-hander has been brilliant out of the bullpen thus far, giving up just 10 hits in 24 1/3 innings of work, holding opposing batters to a .132 average.  Villanueva’s numbers have been even better away from the Rogers Centre, surrendering just a single hit in 11 1/3 frames.  In two previous outings versus the Yankees, he has tossed two scoreless innings, which may give him confidence in his first start since August 17, 2009.

New York registered a 9-3 blowout victory at Yankee Stadium to close out a series win over the Mets Sunday afternoon.  The Yankees put up eight runs in the seventh inning to run away with the contest, as shortstop Derek Jeter delivered the tie-breaking, two-run single.  “When you put the ball in play with runners on, sometimes good things are going to happen,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi.  The club will now turn its attention to the sixth of 18 games against Toronto, coming in with a 3-2 record in the series.  New York has won 23 of the last 38 meetings at Yankee Stadium, including two of three in a three-game series at the end of April that carries in to May.

Yankees starting pitcher Bartolo Colon will make his seventh start of the season (10th appearance), entering with a 2-2 record and 3.16 ERA.  The right-hander was brilliant in a no-decision effort last time out, tossing eight shutout innings and allowing just three hits in a 4-1 road win at Baltimore.  Colon has tallied an even 1-1 mark and 3.00 ERA in four home outings (two starts), surrendering just two home runs in 21 frames.  In 19 career starts versus the Blue Jays, he is a solid 9-3 with a 3.60 ERA, including a 6-2 win at the Rogers Centre on April 20.  The former Cy Young winner gave up two runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings in that particular start.

Bettors will likely seek value in backing the Blue Jays due to their 4-0 record versus right-handers on the road, while the Yankees are 4-10 on Mondays.