Preview: Blue Jays at Cleveland Indians
By Alex Briggs
Game one of the 2016 ALCS sees John Gibbons and the American League’s best pitching rotation, the Toronto Blue Jays, head to Progressive Field.
The Blue Jays will have the deciding on who to field, with Devon Travis and Francisco Liriano eager to return. Having missed the final game of the ALDS the two player would have to sit out of game one but still be included in the series lineups.
The Blue Jays top half of the order rediscovered their form in the Divisional series. Third baseman and 2015 American League Most valuable player, Josh Donaldson, hopes to lean on previous playoff experiences.
Donaldson said: “The longer that I’ve been in the game and played the game, the better understanding I have of what player I am and what I’m capable of doing”
Marco Estrada will take to the mound for the Blue Jays in game one. J.A Happ will take game two. If the series comes down to pitching, it looks to be Toronto with the A team combined ERA of 3.78, places Toronto sixth overall.
For the Indians, Corey Kluber will open the series on the mount, although there remains some doubt as to what he can offer after sustaining a quad injury in his last outing of the regular season.
It isn’t only pitching that makes this series so fascinating. Current Toronto President Mark Shapiro, alongside General Manager Ross Atkins, worked for Cleveland for a combined 40 seasons before last year.
Cleveland head into the game full of optimism after spoiling future hall of famer, David Ortiz’s, retiring party by sweeping the Red Sox in the ALDS.