Game #3 Preview: Blue Jays @ Yankees

After a painful affair last night, the Blue Jays will try to salvage a series win against the Yankees tonight with a first pitch of 7:05 pm. Rookie Daniel Norris made one start in September last season, but will begin his 2015 campaign with his own spot in the team's rotation locked down and a chance to turn a lot of heads around the league. Someone who the Tennessee native should be hoping to emulate with his major league career opposes him this evening in fellow lefty CC Sabathia. The 34-year-old had a rough season in 2014 going down in early May to some serious knee problems that put his career at risk. He returns to the Yankees rotation this year looking to reclaim his spot atop their depth chart and find some of his old form.

If you've forgotten what to expect from Daniel Norris (aside from an awesome beard and van stories), then I'm here to remind you. The lefty throws a fastball in the low to mid 90's along with a changeup that falls right off the table. His breaking pitches are composed of a slider that has a lot of vertical drop plus a massive over-the-top curveball. If Norris can execute most of his pitches this evening then he should be able to make the Yankees look pretty silly early in the game as only Chris Young, Brian McCann, Chase Headley and Steven Drew stepped in against him during a one inning appearance last September.

For Sabathia, the offerings are essentially what Michael Pineda was throwing last night but reversed for a lefty arm. The fastball and sinker (both with slowly decreasing velocity) and the slider are the only pitches thrown against righties, while lefties also get a heavy dosage of changeups thrown into the mix. The slider and changeup are where Sabathia makes his money and considering age and injuries are starting to take the zip off his fastball, the off-speed stuff will be leaned upon even more going forward.

As all good pitchers with sliders do, Sabathia runs it off the plate against same-sided hitters and in under the hands of righties.

Probable Lineup

Righties have always hit Sabathia better than lefties regardless of the added changeup thrown to them.

1. Jose Reyes SS
2. Russell Martin C
3. Jose Bautista RF
4. Edwin Encarnacion DH
5. Josh Donaldson 3B
6. Danny Valencia 1B
7. Kevin Pillar LF
8. Dalton Pompey CF
9. Devon Travis 2B

Bullpen Usage

Maybe someone not named Loup or Castro out of an eight-man bullpen could make an appearance in this game. The business-end of the Yankees bullpen should be pretty thin today thanks to Betances' outing last night.

Toronto

• Yesterday: Miguel Castro (0.2 IP, 4 pitches), Aaron Loup (0 IP, 8 pitches), Brett Cecil (0.1 IP, 16 pitches), Roberto Osuna (0.2 IP, 11 pitches)
• Two Days Ago: Day Off