MLB picks: Yankees vs. Blue Jays, Marlins vs. Braves

Let’s give out picks for a pair of divisional games taking place this Tuesday night. First, it’s the New York Yankees taking on the Toronto Blue Jays, then we have the matchup between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves.

New York Yankees (21-20) at Toronto Blue Jays (23-18), 6:37 p.m. ET

It appears as though the Yankees, one of the preseason World Series favorites, will fall to .500 on Tuesday night as they face the Blue Jays at Sahlen Field.

J.A. Happ starts for the Bombers, who are 5-14 over their last 19 games. The southpaw’s 4.68 ERA on the season does not inspire much confidence. His former club is third in the AL by OPS (.748) against lefties this year, so it could be another quick exit for Happ on Tuesday. The New York bullpen has been trending in the wrong direction, producing a 5.52 ERA over the last seven days (22nd in baseball). Look for Toronto left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who has 17 hits in his last 33 at-bats (.515), to have another productive night at the plate.

Taijuan Walker (3-2, 3.26 ERA) makes his third start in a Blue Jays uniform in this one. After blanking the Orioles through six frames on Aug. 29, he was one out away from a second straight quality start on Sept. 3, as he held the Red Sox to two runs over 5 2/3 innings. Walker and the solid Toronto bullpen (3.25 ERA, fourth in the majors) should stymie a Yankees lineup that’s 28th in batting average (.207) over the last two weeks.

MLB pick: Blue Jays moneyline

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Miami Marlins (18-18) at Atlanta Braves (24-17), 7:10 p.m. ET

Sixto Sanchez and the Marlins bullpen should boss the Braves at Truist Park on Tuesday night.

Sanchez has been highly impressive through his first three MLB starts, going 1-1 with a 2.37 ERA and 1.00 WHIP while striking out 19 batters. Being able to pitch 19 innings in that span in this day and age is no small feat either. Once Sanchez is lifted, he’ll turn things over to a Miami bullpen that’s second in the majors by ERA over the last week (1.82).

Kyle Wright counters for Atlanta, making his first appearance since walking six Marlins batters over three innings of work in an 8-2 defeat on Aug. 14. His ERA on the season is a ghastly 7.20. The Braves’ relief corps has been lacking over the last seven days, producing a 4.85 ERA, 18th in the majors in that span.

MLB pick: Marlins moneyline