After the Blue Jays took game one from the Yankees to hold a 1.0 game lead in the Wild Card race ahead of the Tigers, they were set to face C.C. Sabathia. Sabathia has 15 wins in his career against the Jays and has been having a resurgent season as he adjusts to being a lower velocity pitcher. The Blue Jays were looking to keep rolling after scoring 9 runs off the Yankees in the first game. Marcus Stroman got the ball and hoped to continue his recent successes. He entered with four starts in September and had yet to allow more then three runs in a start.