Joe Giradi really does not get enough credit for what he's done with this team and he's doing it again. Starting Phil Hughes on the road instead of putting him out there at home where he's been just awful. Phil Hughes is also getting the hook early in games because Giradi knows he struggles the third time through an order. I think Hughes throws another gem in short as he is facing a Blue Jays team that just placed Encarnacion on the DL and is already without Cabrera and Bautista which significantly weakens the pop int he line up for the Blue Jays. Hughes should get out of his own way and won't allow a ton of HR's that have hurt him more than anything and give the Yankees a great shot to win.
Yankees offense has struggled over their 4 game losing streak, but they had to face 4 really good pitchers in the trio from Boston and then R.A. Dickey. Now getting to face J.A. Happ will certainly help this team that has hit him hard. Happ's three starts this season against the Yankees he's allowed 12 ER in 16 innings while allowing 27 base runners. Happ has walked nearly 5 guys per 9 and the Yankees typically are a patient group that won't panic and will work themselves into hitting accounts which is something they can do tonight against Happ. Yankees are 35-17 in their last 52 meetings with the Blue Jays and should work themselves back into contention with winning the final games of this series.
What a story these Nationals are right now winning 21 of their last 27 games. Sometimes you just get confidence and their is no stopping you and I can't help but back them once again as the Braves batts have gone quite being shut out in 2 of their last 3 games and hitting .205 with just 2.69 runs per 9 over their last 10. The Nationals meanwhile 6.41 runs per 9 vs. LHP and their bullpen is dominating. Alex Wood should not be a road favorite despite is early season success. He's a mid rotation guy that is finally getting around the league with 70 innings this season. He's been allowing 2+ guys on base per inning over his last 4 starts and has not made it out of the 5th inning in his last two against struggling offenses (Phillies and Marlins). Ross OHlendorf has pitched well at home with a 2.86 ERA over 34.2 IP and the Nationals should win this game and the price is right.
