(Sports Network) - It could be a historic night for a pair of New York Yankees this evening when the American League East leaders begin a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
Mariano Rivera enters the contest one save shy of tying the all-time record of 601 set by Trevor Hoffman, while CC Sabathia will be trying to become the first Yankee pitcher to post back-to- back 20 win seasons since Tommy John (1978-79).
Sabathia, the first American League pitcher with 19 or more wins in three straight years since Oakland's Dave Stewart won 20 or more from 1987-1990, was denied his 20th win on Saturday in Anaheim, but he pitched well, allowing just a run and eight hits in six innings. He did surrender four walks and fell to 19-8 on the year to go along with a 2.93 earned run average.
Houston's Roy Oswalt (2004-05) is the last major league pitcher to record consecutive 20 win seasons.
Sabathia has beaten the Jays three times this season and is 12-3 lifetime against them with a 2.99 ERA.
New York wasn't able to complete a three-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, as the Yankees fell, 2-1, in 12 innings. Nick Swisher homered in the loss for the Yankees, who have a 4 1/2-game edge on the Boston Red Sox in the AL East standings.
Toronto, meanwhile, enters tonight's opener on the heels of a thrilling win over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. The Jays rallied for three runs in the eighth en route to a 5-4 win at Fenway Park.
"The thing we've shown on a number of occasions," said Toronto manager John Farrell, "is we put some adversity behind us and come and get ready to play a solid game."
J.P. Arencibia, Kelly Johnson and Edwin Encarnacion knocked in a run apiece for the Blue Jays, who recovered from an 18-6 loss in Tuesday's series opener and picked up their fifth win in seven games.
Ricky Romero (15-10) allowed six hits and four runs -- three earned -- over eight innings for the win. Frank Francisco tossed a scoreless ninth for his 15th save.
Getting the call tonight for Toronto will be righty Dustin McGowan, who will make an emergency start in place of Brett Cecil. Cecil was scratched with a cut finger on his pitching hand hours before the start of Friday's contest.