The end of the Toronto Blue Jays season promises to be exciting. After all, as of today and with a week and a half of activities, the club’s magic number is 4.
Yesterday the Rays, Mariners and Orioles all lost, which helped the Blue Jays cause.
Winning against the Rays and seeing the Mariners give the Royals 11 runs in an inning helped Toronto’s cause.
Why? Because at this point, seeing Toronto make the playoffs is more than likely.
With the playoffs starting next Friday, the club’s goal isn’t necessarily just to make them, but to host home games.
And for that, they will have to finish ahead of the Rays and the Mariners. Why? Because in the event of a tiebreaker in the standings, the advantage is with the American teams in both cases because of the results of the games this season.
So yes, the Jays want to play at home since 100% of the best second streak takes place at the home stadium of the best team. But for that, they will first have to not see their lead melt away like snow in the sun against the Yankees over the next three games.
Monday through Wednesday (before a Thursday bye), the Blue Jays will send the following pitchers to the mound:
- Monday 26: Kevin Gausman
- Tuesday 27: Jose Berrios
- Wednesday 28: Mitch White
Friday (30), against the Red Sox who will not want to lose face, it will be the return of Alek Manoah, who will still be entitled to an additional day of rest.
Saturday and Sunday, during the first two days of October? Ross Stripling and Kevin Gausman should be on the mound.
Then, in the games of October 3 and 4, we should see Jose Berrios and Mitch White start the series.
And during the match of 5? Alek Manoah would be available. And John Schneider’s plan, if home advantage isn’t secure, would be to send Manoah in to get her.
In such a case, Kevin Gausman could play the first playoff game, which would take place on Friday, October 7.
That said, the plan would be, ideally, to ensure before that to have the advantage of the ground. Thus, the club could go from one bullpen day (since the other starters would not be available) to keep Manoah and Gausman for the first playoff games.
So the objective is clear and I imagine that the boys have understood the message: if you want Manoah for the first game of the playoffs, get the home court advantage quickly.
And among the guys who have to get up, we note the name of George Springer.
Because the veteran is good in the playoffs (he was the MVP of the World Series in 2017 in Houston), because he has the experience and because he is the veteran par excellence of the group, he must take advantage of his experience to young people.
He must, as he did yesterday and as he has been doing since the beginning of the month, get up.
Obviously, he cannot do things alone and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be there to support him.
That said, several players of the core offense (Bo Bichette, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez, to name a few) have only the short 2020 playoff experience to draw on.
George has many more. This is where it will take on its importance.
The Jays manager must therefore continue to give him, here and there, days as DH to keep him in great shape (physically) for the playoffs, where he can excel.
- Alex Rodriguez wants to ask the White Sox owner to come play a few games to hit 700 homers, but also to restart his eligibility period at the Temple.
- Quite a welcome for Albert Pujols.
- Trevor Story wants to see Xander Bogaerts stay in town.
