Live Updates: New York Yankees at Toronto Blue Jays

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Gerrit Cole taking on a division rival less than two weeks away from Opening Day? What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

The Yankees are back in Dunedin to face the Blue Jays with their ace on the mound.

As we get set for first pitch, here are Sunday's starting lineups and some related reading.

New York Yankees

Brett Gardner LF

Aaron Judge DH

Aaron Hicks CF

Luke Voit 1B

Clint Frazier RF

Derek Dietrich 2B

Kyle Higashioka C

Thairo Estrada 3B

Tyler Wade SS

Gerrit Cole SP

Cole will make one more start after this game before taking on these same Blue Jays on Opening Day. He's got Kyle Higashioka behind the plate on Sunday as Higgy returns from a brief stretch on the sidelines with a sore side.

Not every starter made the trip from Tampa to Dunedin, but players like Gary Sánchez, DJ LeMahieu and Gio Urshela were in action last night in Sarasota.

Toronto Blue Jays

Springer CF

Biggio LF

Bichette SS

Guerrero Jr. 1B

Hernández RF

Semien 2B

Grichuk DH

Panik 3B

Jansen C

Roark SP

A full lineup of starters for Cole to face. Again, Cole will see these same Jays on Opening Day.

LIVE UPDATES

First inning

The Yankees explode for four runs in the top of the first. Luke Voit and Clint Frazier both rip RBI doubles while Derek Dietrich adds an RBI single. Tanner Roark didn't even record two outs before he was taken out of the game.

A missile off Luke Voit’s bat goes into the left-field corner for an RBI double.

Statcast had this measured at 109.3 mph from Voit 👀 pic.twitter.com/LKlsKbrQ70
— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) March 21, 2021

Gerrit Cole nearly gave up a leadoff homer to George Springer, and then had Cavan Biggo smack a single to right, but he got through the first frame without giving up a run.

Third inning

Thairo Estrada makes it a seven-run lead for New York after launching a three-run homer to right-center field.

Thairo Estrada takes a three-run home run to the opposite field to give the #Yankees a 7-0 lead 👀

Statcast had this one fly 381 feet and leave his bat at 100.1 mph pic.twitter.com/vwRaIhwcSo
— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) March 21, 2021

Fifth inning

Cole allowed his first run of the game, a solo shot off the bat of Marcus Semien. He's through five frames with only four hits allowed and eight strikeouts.

Sixth inning

New York adds another. Thairo Estrada comes around to score on a base hit from Tyler Wade to make it an 8-1 Yankees lead.

Gerrit Cole's day is done after five innings, throwing 78 pitches with eight strikeouts. He only allowed the one run on the solo homer. Asher Wojciechowski is in from the Yankees' bullpen.

Seventh inning

Lucas Luetge's scoreless spring has come to an end. The left-hander gives up a solo shot to Teoscar Hernandez to the opposite field. It's 8-2, Yankees.

Eighth inning

Kevin Smith launches another solo shot off Luetge, this one to deep left-center field.

Ninth inning

FINAL: Yankees 8, Blue Jays 3

Gerrit Cole gets the win as the bullpen holds on for New York.

The Yankees are back in action on Monday evening, hosting the Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Jameson Taillon is expected to get the start for New York.

Thanks as always for following along and we'll see you right back here next time!