NEW YORK – As the Blue Jays venture into Yankee Stadium for an important three-game series with their foes in pinstripes, there are a number of storylines to latch on to before considering who will take the mound for Toronto on Tuesday night. Its the first-place Blue Jays against the team closest to them in the American League East. Toronto enters the series with a four-and-a-half game lead on the Yankees. Its another chance, the second of what will be as many as six, to wave goodbye to New Yorks future Hall of Fame shortstop, Derek Jeter. Here in New York, the dulcet voice of the late, great public address announcer, Bob Sheppard, brings No. 2 to the plate. Jose Reyes is back in New York, too. He made his name over in Queens playing for the Mets. R.A. Dickey is here but wont pitch. He won the Cy Young award two seasons ago on the other side of the city. Oh, and dont forget about the Blue Jays rookies mound opponent on this Tuesday: a rookie himself, technically, the Japanese phenom Masahiro Tanaka, whos dominated the early days of his major league career like he dominated for years back home. Then there is Marcus Stroman. Its strange that this, essentially a homecoming for a young man raised in the Long Island town of Medford, is somewhat lost in the shuffle. Hes the 23-year-old who stunned general manager Alex Anthopoulos, blowing his bubble gum in the middle of his windup. The kid seems born for the spotlight, even if it will shine more brightly on others. "Im usually pretty good with dealing with things like that," Stroman said on Sunday. "I dont let anything get to me or get me overly excited or kind of get me out of my game. Im fine. Im in a good place mentally. I feel good going into it. I have kind of an off-day just to hang out with friends in the city and then it will be Game on Tuesday." Medford is a sleepy town, according to Stroman, more than an hour from New York City. Its closer to the upscale Hamptons, a drive of about 45 minutes. Medford has one high school, Patchogue-Medford High School, which Stroman attended before moving on to college at Duke University. The town will awaken this evening. Many of its inhabitants, in fact, will venture to Yankee Stadium to watch the hometown boy pitch. Stroman has purchased up to 70 tickets for close family and friends. He said hes been told by another 50 or 60 people theyve bought ducats. Hell have a throng of about 130 people here rooting him on. "Anytime you have an opportunity to pitch in front of a bunch of family and friends, its exciting," said Stroman. "I should have a lot of – a bunch of people texting me, bunch of friends from high school, college, a lot of people reaching out to me saying theyre going to be at the game so thats always exciting to pitch in front of people whove been there along the way." Stroman is 3-1 in his first year in the big leagues, 2-1 as a starter. Hes gone six innings in each of his first three starts, losing his last outing against the Twins. In two of those appearances, including the Minnesota defeat, he didnt walk a batter. He has impressed with his fastball. His breaking stuff, particularly his curveball, has baffled opposing hitters. Hes developing his changeup. Hes not developing confidence. He already has it. His coaches brag about it. "I certainly dont see him as a guy whos going to nibble and pitch around guys," said pitching coach Pete Walker. "Hes definitely on the attack. His walks have been down and I would like to think that thats going to continue with him. He certainly trusts his stuff. Theres no doubt about that." Growing up, Stroman went to Yankees games at the old stadium and saw the Mets at Shea. He didnt cheer for either team. He admired players. Like most native New Yorkers, he watched Jeter in awe. On Tuesday night, hell pitch to Jeter. He doesnt know what to expect. "I cant even tell you," said Stroman. "Im sure itll settle in once Im kind of on the mound but Im pretty sure it will be surreal." Stitched Lakers Jerseys . None of them are Finlands Pekka Rinne, who stands as Canadas biggest challenge in Thursdays quarter-final round. Even while a young Finnish team has struggled with penalties, turnovers and a lack of offensive depth, Rinne has been a rock with a 1. Lakers Jerseys 2019 . Solomon Elimimian did not make the trip with the team after suffering what appeared to be a right leg injury in the teams regular season finale against the Calgary Stampeders. https://www.lakersjerseycheap.com/ . Aaron Hill and Cliff Pennington hit home runs in the first inning for the Diamondbacks, who beat the Miami Marlins 3-2 on Friday night. Los Angeles Lakers Store . In mens doubles, Vancouvers Vasek Pospisil and American Jack Sock reached the quarter-finals with a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3), 6-4 win over Croatian Mate Pavic and Andre Sa of Brazil. Los Angeles Lakers Shirts . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. Valencia fought back from a three-goal first-leg deficit Thursday to beat Basel 5-0 and qualify for the Europa League semifinal, while competition favourite Juventus advanced after a tense 2-1 win at home to Lyon. Pablo Alcacer scored a hat trick in Valencia, with the third coming in extra time after Basel had seen Marcelo Diaz and Gaston Sauro sent off. Eduardo Vargas and Juan Bernat also netted as Valencia became the first side to come back from a 3-0 first leg defeat and progress in the Europa League. "Id like to thank my team-mates, without whom I wouldnt have scored this hat trick tonight," Alacer said. "The fans were with us from the very first minute tonight; they were fantastic and we dedicate this win to them." In Turin, Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio scored either side of Jimmy Briands leveler for Lyon, handing Juventus a 3-1 aggregate win. Marchisios strike was later awarded as an own goal by UEFA, after it took a decisive deflection off Samuel Umtiti. "We hope that the whole of Italy is happy with our result," Juventus coach Antonio Conte said. "In Italy youre either a Juventus fan or against Juventus. And those who are against us dont care a lot about the UEFA ranking and only hope that we are knocked out. "We are proud and happy. Three years ago we didnt even qualify for the Europa League, in the last two years we have done a lot and won a lot and this year we are protagonists too. The fans shouldnt forget that." Benfica, beaten by Chelsea in last seasons final, could be back in the showpiece match next month after beating AZ Alkmaar 2-0 to seal a 3-0 aggregate victory, while 10-man Sevilla defeated Porto 4-1 to qualify 4-2 on aggregate. Basel had seemed certain to progress after a comfortable win in Switzerland, but two goals shortly before halftime gave Valencia hope. First Alcacer chested down Joao Pereiras ball over the defence and fired it into the bottom left corner, before Vargas headed home Dani Parejos corner. The two goalscorers combined in the 70th minute with a delightful cut back from Vargas to the onrushing Alcacer, who lashed the ball into the top left corner to level the tie. Basel goalkeeper Yann Sommer kept his side in the tie with a number of stunning saves, while counterppart Vicente Guaita saw little of the ball.dddddddddddd Valencia almost won it on the stroke of full time but Sommer did brilliantly to deny Alcacer and Vargas slid the rebound off the base of the right post. Basel lost hope of scoring a crucial goal when Diaz was shown a straight red card for a needless kick at Ricardo Costa and Sauro followed him five minutes later after two yellow cards in a minute. Alcacer completed his hat trick when he tapped home Pablo Piattis cross seven minutes from time and Bernat sealed the result five minutes later. Juventus is favourite to win the competition, with the final in its own stadium on May 14, and it looked dangerous from the start as Carlos Tevez threatened to break his four-year goal drought in Europe with a shot which flew narrowly over the crossbar. The Italian side did take an early lead when free-kick specialist Pirlo curled an effort into the left of goal from just outside the area. Lyon was denied what looked like a clear penalty when Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci blocked Alexandre Lacazettes cross with his hand but the referee waved play on. Lyon levelled shortly afterwards when a corner came out to Arnold Mvuemba, who sent a looping cross into the area for Briand to outjump Marchisio and head in off the base of the far post. Tevez thought he had finally broken his drought when he headed home Pirlos cross on the hour mark but it was ruled out for offside. Lyon had looked the more dangerous but Juventus took the lead in the 68th minute as Marchisios shot took a huge deflection off Umtiti to completely wrongfoot Anthony Lopes. Sevilla was trailing 1-0 from the first leg but levelled the tie in the fifth minute after Danilo brought down Carlos Bacca and the Colombia striker drilled the resulting penalty into the bottom right corner. Vitolo and another strike from Bacca gave Sevilla a comfortable advantage before defender Coke was sent off for two bookings less than 10 minutes into the second half. However, substitute Kevin Gameiro sealed Sevillas progress when he fired home a rebound in the 79th minute before Ricardo Quaresma notched a stunning consolation for Porto in stoppage time. In Portugal, Rodrigo scored in either half to keep Benefica on course for a second consecutive final. ' ' '