The Toronto Blue Jays achieved a four-game sweep against the New York Yankees, gaining the top spot in the American League East during their matchup at Rogers Centre on Thursday. Both teams now own a record of 48-38, but the Blue Jays have taken the lead in the division, just ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays.
This marks the first time the Yankees have endured a series loss of this magnitude since September 2021, and it was Toronto that completed the sweep at Yankee Stadium just a few days prior.
Veteran pitcher Chris Bassitt (7-4, 4.29 ERA) is under pressure after experiencing one of his roughest outings this season, suffering a significant 15-1 defeat against the Red Sox, where he allowed nine hits and four walks over just two innings. On the other side, Clark Schmidt (4-4, 3.09) is looking to stop the Yankees’ recent struggles, as they’ve lost 13 of their last 19 games; like Bassitt, Schmidt also faced setbacks in his last match, allowing four runs in a 7-0 loss to the Athletics.
The matchup between the Blue Jays and Yankees promises to be a highlight in the sports landscape, but there are also ten MLB games featuring teams like the Guardians and Cubs, as well as five WNBA games.
For Thursday, July 3rd, interested viewers can catch the Blue Jays vs. Yankees at 7:07 PM ET on MLB Network, where Sportsbook predictions favor the Blue Jays at +1.5 (-156). Experts predict a total over of 16.5 strikeouts from Bassitt, who is expected to perform better after turning in an impressive performance earlier this season at Yankee Stadium.
As for the Yankees, their bullpen has struggled in this series, conceding 12 runs in just nine innings of action, including a notable performance where they recovered from an eight-run deficit before eventually tying the game 9-9.
In contrast, the Blue Jays have relied heavily on their bullpen in recent days, with Brendon Little, Jariel Rodriguez, and Jeff Hoffman all participating in three of the last four game days. This consistent use has led Sportsline expert Matt Severance to favor Bassitt’s over of total pitch outs.
Cubs vs. Guardians
The Cubs will face off against the Guardians at 8:05 PM ET in Chicago, while the Cubs hold the second-best record in the National League (51-35) and lead the Central Division by three games. Conversely, the Guardians (40-44) are struggling, having lost their last six games and being underperformers with a batting average ranking them 29th in the majors.
The Sportsline projection model leans towards a Cubs victory at -143, while also anticipating an over of 0.5 bases for Michael Bush (-161).
WNBA Highlights
The WNBA features a game between the Aces and the Fever at 7 PM ET, with the Aces favored by -4.5. Indiana will be without their star, Kelsey Mitchell, leading to a challenging match against a well-rested Las Vegas team.
MLS Insights
In the MLS, NYCFC will host Toronto FC at 7:30 PM ET, where NYCFC looks to improve their ninth-place standing. They previously defeated Toronto 1-0 earlier in the season and have only allowed 21 goals, tying them for second in their conference defensively.
Fan Take: This news is significant for sports fans as it highlights the competitive nature of the AL East, where every game’s result can dramatically impact playoff standings. The Yankees’ struggles could signal a turning point in the season, raising questions about their playoff aspirations and the opportunity for other teams to capitalize on their downturn.
