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Winning-but-wounded Yankees visit Blue JaysFLMThe New York Yankees will visit the Toronto Blue Jays for the opener a three-game series Friday night while dealing with yet another flurry of injuries.The Yankees (97-51) swept a doubleheader from the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, but they suffered three injuries in the process. Winning despite injuries has been a theme for the Yankees this season.While New York is comfortably ahead in the American League East, having a magic number of five to eliminate the second-place Tampa Bay Rays, the Blue Jays (57-90) are trying to avoid their first 100-loss season since 1979.Toronto failed to complete a three-game sweep against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday in a sloppy 7-4 loss in which they made three errors, two in the outfield.Yankees designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion left the first game in Detroit after this third at-bat with a strained left oblique. Left-hander J. A. Happ allowed seven hits and two runs in 4 2/3 innings in the first game, and following the outing it was learned that he has biceps tendinitis.In the second game, catcher Gary Sanchez left in the fourth inning with tightness in his left groin. He was caught trying to steal second in the top of the third, but caught the bottom of the inning. He has been out with a strained groin and a left calf injury this season.The Yankees are optimistic that all three injuries could be minor."My understanding is (Encarnacion) was fine swinging," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "We hope it's minor and we got ahead of it, but we won't know until we get it checked out." Happ has been pitching with discomfort in the area for the past several starts."It's progressing, getting to a point where we decided to go get it checked out and go from there," Happ said.The Yankees will start right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (10-8, 4.53 ERA) Friday against Blue Jays left-hander Anthony Kay (0-0, 3.18).Tanaka is the second pitcher in Yankees history to reach double-digit wins in each of his first six major league seasons, joining Andy Pettitte, who did it in each of his first nine seasons (1995-2003).Tanaka is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in three starts against the Blue Jays this season. In 20 career starts against Toronto, he is 13-5, 2.69. In nine starts in Toronto, he is 4-3, 3.18.Kay will be making his second major league start. He was obtained from the New York Mets in the deal for Marcus Stroman late in July. He had an impressive major league debut against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sept. 7, allowing two runs and striking out eight in 5 2/3 innings.The Blue Jays could welcome back two injured players this weekend. Outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (left quadriceps strain) could return and serve as the designated hitter.And 19-year-old right-hander Elvis Luciano (right elbow sprain) has been activated from the 60-day injured list, while left-hander Clayton Richard was released to make room for him.Luciano, a Rule 5 draft pick, is 1-0 with a 6.51 ERA in 27 2/3 innings."We've got more people in the bullpen now than when he was active," Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. "He pitched a lot more than we probably wanted to at one time. But it's just about finding the spots where he can succeed." --Field Level Media

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