This is a 10* AL ASSASSIN on the New York Yankees.

Brian Cashman had a private team meeting with the Yankees last night. New York has its work cut out for it moving forward with injuries to key sluggers making it difficult this season.

The Yanks pitching hasn't been great either. All that said, I think that New York will break out of its five game slide tonight and find a way to get the job done against the contented Blue Jays.

Toronto is now three games ahead of the Yanks for second place in the AL East, so to say this is an important game for New York would be an understatement.

I'm going to call Deivi Garcia (0-1, 3.38 ERA) and Tanner Roark (2-1, 5.74) a "wash" on the mound today. Garcia is a rookie, but he's been sharp in his first three starts and he certainly won't be lacking for motivation.

Roark is the veteran in this matchup, but his form has been poor overall this year, a beneficiary of some sizeable offense so far.

Note that the Yanks are 7-2 in their last 9 though after a four games or longer losing streak.

Toronto is going to likely be without the services of slugger Rowdy Tellez today as well, who injured his knee in last night's slim victory.

I'm banking on the HUNGRIER team getting it done here.

Lay the price, the play is the YANKEES!

Good luck, NP