MLB playoff watch: How the wind could help Canada's team in the Bronx
Are the winds on the Toronto Blue Jays' side in the Bronx? A subtle, south-southeast wind could play a quiet but meaningful role in Tuesday night’s Yankees–Blue Jays showdown in New York.
The forecast on Tuesday evening looks unremarkable on paper, mostly cloudy skies featuring an incredibly mild night by typical October standards. But the secret lies in the wind direction.
The flags at Yankee Stadium will be blowing thanks to a steady, south-southeasterly wind during first pitch at Yankee Stadium, silently tilting the odds toward the visiting Blue Jays, who hope to close out the series.
Taking a look at the Yankees' lineup, that breeze runs counter to their biggest strength: Their left-heavy lineup is built to take advantage of the infamous, short, right-field porch, just 314 feet (96 metres) from home plate.
Yankees' Tuesday lineup:
Trent Grisham (L) CF
Aaron Judge (R) RF
Cody Bellinger (L) LF
Ben Rice (L) 1B
Giancarlo Stanton (R) DH
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L) 2B
Ryan McMahon (L) 3B
Anthony Volpe (R) SS
Austin Wells (L) C
Six out of nine of the starting lineup bats are left-handed, meaning that the breeze will suppress balls to right field, making it somewhat unfavourable for the Yankees’ lineup.
Toronto, by contrast, has a much more right-handed-heavy lineup, which benefits from the projected wind setup. Take Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer, for example: The same wind that hurts New York’s pull hitters could give Toronto’s biggest sluggers an extra few feet of lift to left field.
Blue Jays' Tuesday lineup:
George Springer (R) DH
Davis Schneider (R) LF
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B
Alejandro Kirk (R) C
Daulton Varsho (L) CF
Ernie Clement (R) 3B
Anthony Santander (S) RF
Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) 2B
Andrés Giménez (L) SS
Seven of the nine Blue Jays bat right-handed, giving them a slight edge to take advantage of the favourable breeze. This game won’t be won or lost by the wind, but make no mistake, the atmosphere always has a say.