Yanks Look to Avoid Hangover, Take on Jays

Mike Mussina, RHP (18-9, 3.57)
Yankees (85-71)
Jesse Litsch, RHP (12-8, 3.72)
Blue Jays (83-73)

Scouting Report:
Yankees: Mussina bounced back from a shaky start to pick up his 18th win, against the White Sox on Thursday. After he was worked for 28 pitches and one run in the first inning, the veteran shut down Chicago through the next five innings before he left to a standing ovation. He gave up just five hits and retired 10 straight batters to keep his pitch count from getting out of hand. In the first of two remaining scheduled starts, Mussina will attempt to take one more step toward what would be his first 20-win season. He is 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA in two starts against the Blue Jays this year.

Blue Jays: Litsch has struggled some with his control lately, issuing an uncharacteristic nine walks over his past two starts. Even so, Litsch has gone 4-1 with a 1.91 ERA in seven starts since being recalled from Triple-A after a three-start stint in the Minors to retool his pitch arsenal. On Thursday, the 23-year-old Litsch picked up a win in a 107-pitch effort against the Orioles after allowing two runs on four hits with six strikeouts and four walks over six innings. In his career against the Yankees, Litsch is 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA in five starts.