Toronto Blue Jays vs New York Yankees Picks and Prediction for Sunday August 23 2026

The Toronto Blue Jays visit the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Sunday at 1:35 PM ET. Toronto is 63-67, fourth in the AL East and 14 games behind Tampa Bay after Friday’s 3-1 loss to New York. The Blue Jays are also just outside the American League Wild Card field. New York is 73-55, second in the AL East and three games behind Tampa Bay while holding a Wild Card position. The Yankees have won five straight games, while Toronto has split its last four. Sunday’s starting pitching and recent form provide the focus in our free MLB picks.

Toronto Blue Jays Look for More Offense

Toronto has scored 514 runs while batting .245 with a .306 on-base percentage and .379 slugging percentage. The Blue Jays rank 14th in MLB in batting average but have hit only 123 home runs. Ernie Clement leads Toronto with a .285 average and 137 hits, while Kazuma Okamoto has supplied the most power with 26 home runs and 74 RBI. 

The Blue Jays have been inconsistent recently, scoring 25 runs over their last five games but producing only one in Friday’s series-opening defeat. Toronto beat Tampa Bay 10-5 and 5-1 during that stretch, but also lost 7-6 to the Rays and 4-3 to the Yankees in 10 innings. The Blue Jays are 30-34 away from home. Their pitching staff ranks 10th in MLB with a 3.96 ERA and has a 1.31 WHIP.

Injuries: Andrés Gimenez (Day-To-Day), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (7-Day IL), Jonatan Clase (10-Day IL), Jameson Taillon (15-Day IL), Joe Mantiply (60-Day IL).

New York Yankees Try to Extend Five-Game Winning Streak

New York enters Sunday playing its best baseball of the recent stretch. The Yankees have won five consecutive games, beating Toronto 3-1 on Friday after sweeping four straight contests against Baltimore and Toronto. New York has scored 21 runs during the winning streak while allowing only nine. The Yankees are batting .230 with a .308 on-base percentage and .407 slugging percentage, but their 176 home runs give the lineup considerable power.

Ben Rice leads New York with 34 home runs and 80 RBI while posting an .875 OPS. Aaron Judge has produced 17 homers and a .907 OPS in 59 games, while Jazz Chisholm Jr. has 17 home runs and 33 stolen bases. Pitching has been New York’s biggest strength, with the Yankees ranked first in MLB with a 3.22 ERA. Their staff also owns a 1.17 WHIP and has held opponents to a .223 batting average.

Injuries: Cody Bellinger (10-Day IL), Kervin Castro (15-Day IL), Max Fried (15-Day IL), Ryan McMahon (10-Day IL), Giancarlo Stanton (10-Day IL).

Pitching Matchup

Toronto Blue Jays – Jose Soriano

Soriano is 10-6 with a 3.23 ERA and 1.26 WHIP across 139.1 innings. The right-hander has allowed 114 hits, 62 walks, and 13 home runs while striking out 136. Soriano has kept hits and home runs under control, although his 62 walks have increased the number of baserunners he has needed to work around.

New York Yankees – Carlos Rodon

Rodon is 4-2 with a 3.22 ERA and 1.23 WHIP through 50.1 innings. The left-hander has allowed 34 hits, 28 walks, and four home runs while recording 56 strikeouts. Rodon has made fewer starts and worked considerably fewer innings than Soriano, but his ERA and WHIP are slightly lower entering Sunday’s matchup.

Toronto Blue Jays vs New York Yankees Game Pick

• New York Yankees

New York’s current form and stronger overall pitching numbers make the Yankees the preferred side Sunday. The Yankees have won five consecutive games while allowing only nine runs during that stretch, including Friday’s 3-1 victory over Toronto. Rodon also enters with a 3.22 ERA and 1.23 WHIP, giving New York a reliable starter opposite Soriano. Toronto has enough offense to stay competitive, but New York’s 176 home runs provide another advantage. With no betting odds supplied, the Yankees are the pick here.

Toronto Blue Jays vs New York Yankees Over/Under Pick

• Under

Starting pitching makes a lower-scoring game the preferred direction Sunday. Soriano owns a 3.23 ERA and has surrendered only 13 home runs across 139.1 innings, while Rodon has a 3.22 ERA with four home runs allowed through 50.1 innings. New York has also permitted only nine total runs during its five-game winning streak, and Toronto managed one run in Friday’s opener. The Yankees rank first in MLB with a 3.22 team ERA. The under will cash on Sunday.