Yankees-Blue Jays Preview

The visiting New York Yankees (-1.5) will be going for their 10th straight win Friday night in the second game of their four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Yankees took an 8-0 lead after three innings in the opener Thursday on their way to their ninth straight victory, a 12-6 result, as Gio Urshela hit two home runs for the second game in a row. Both were two-run blasts.

"We talk about his loud barrel a lot," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

The last Yankee to have back-to-back two homer games was Aaron Judge on Sept. 24-25, 2017.

Urshela also became the seventh Yankee to hit five home runs over a three-game span and the first since Alex Rodriguez in 2007.

Urshela's 13-game hit streak will be on the line Friday as well. During that span, he is batting .444 (24-for-53) with nine doubles, seven homers and 14 RBI.

Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette has a streak of his own going. He has 2-for-5 with a double and a home run Thursday and has started his major league career with an 11-game hit streak.

He has doubled in a major league record nine straight games. Add in his four home runs and he has become the first player in major league history to record 13 extra-base hits in his first 11 career games.

"We're watching history being made from the front row," Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. "It's fun to see."

Toronto catcher Reese McGuire had a career-best four hits Thursday, including a home run.

The Yankees played for the second game in a row without second baseman Gleyber Torres. He had to leave two games this week because of core muscle issues. Torres said he could play Thursday if needed, although he also said he could use another day off.

"We're just kind of day-to-day," Boone said. "Obviously (Thursday) will be a very light work, mostly off his feet, and we'll ramp it up (Friday) to see where he's at. We'll kind of evaluate it day-to-day, and hopefully it's at some point this week."

The Blue Jays also have a question mark for the game Friday. Left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went for a tumble beating out an infield hit in the ninth inning Thursday. He stayed on the ground with an apparent left leg injury while being tended to by a trainer. He was able to walk off the field with some help, but Montoyo was optimistic after checking Gurriel out after the game.

"It looks like he's going to be OK, which is good news." Montoyo said.

The Yankees will start left-hander J.A. Happ (9-6, 5.24 ERA) Friday against Blue Jays right-hander Sean Reid-Foley (1-2, 2.49).

Happ was traded by the Blue Jays to the Yankees last season for Brandon Drury and Billy McKinney.

Happ is 1-1 with a 2.19 ERA against Toronto this season. He is 3-1 with a 2.54 ERA in five career starts against the Blue Jays.

Reid-Foley will make his fifth major league start of the season. He pitched two runless innings in relief against the Yankees in New York June 24. He is 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA in three career games (two starts) against the Yankees.

The Yankees are 7-3 against the Blue Jays this season.

--Field Level Media