Yankees at Blue Jays

WHEN: Monday Aug. 26, 7:05 p.m. eastern
ODDS: Blue Jays -110, O/U 9
TELEVISION: Sportsnet

A beleaguered bunch of Blue Jays returns home to Rogers Centre Monday for a date with the New York Yankees.

Toronto needed a gift-wrapped ninth-inning rally to defeat the Houston Astros 2-1 Sunday and avoid a sweep at the hands of the worst team in the Majors. The Blue Jays finished their road trip with a 2-8 record, which included four straight losses at Yankee Stadium last week.

R.A. Dickey takes the mound for Toronto Monday, countered by Phil Hughes.

WHY YANKEES WILL WIN: Yanks could get an emotional boost in this one as Derek Jeter is expected to return to the lineup. New York enters the series playing some of its best ball of the season, winning eight of its last 10 games. The Yanks have dominated Toronto in the last few years, winning 35 of the last 51 meetings between the AL East rivals. New York has won each of Hughes’ last five starts against the Jays. Toronto is 3-13 in its last 16 home games against teams with winning records, and 1-7 in its last eight overall.

WHY BLUE JAYS WILL WIN: The Blue Jays love returning home after long road trips, winning seven of their last eight at the Dome when coming off a trip of 7 games or more. Hughes isn’t the most intimidating mound opponent, having posted a 12.46 ERA in two starts in Toronto last year. Hughes is also 0-5 with a 5.63 ERA in his last eight starts. Dickey has been a disappointment this year, but he is still the defending NL Cy Young Award winner and is capable of shutting down any team on any day. The victory over Houston Sunday snapped the Jays’ losing streak and puts them into a better mindset for Monday. Yanks have lost eight of last 12 on the road.

Our pick: Blue Jays