TORONTO – Marco Estrada’s start did more than send the ALCS back to Kansas City. It allowed the Toronto Blue Jays to set their pitching staff up perfectly for two crucial games that will either end their season or earn them a berth in the World Series.
David Price, Aaron Sanchez and Roberto Osuna arrived at Rogers Centre ready to pitch multiple innings if necessary Wednesday. Burning through those arms would have seriously compromised the Blue Jays’ chances of winning later in the series, but manager John Gibbons would have had no choice if Estrada had faltered. Instead, the right-hander delivered a stellar outing, saving the Blue Jays’ bullpen in the process.
“That really worked out perfectly tonight,” Gibbons said. “It couldn’t happen any better.”
Dioner Navarro has come to expect these dominant performances from Estrada, but he knew a short outing might cost the Blue Jays another frontline starter.
“That was the most important thing. Going deep into the game. Personally, that was my biggest concern,” Navarro said after the Blue Jays beat Kansas City 7-1. “To pitch 7.2 and save Price for the next outing. We’re really excited. We’re relaxed. We know what’s ahead of us, but I think we can take it.”
Price warmed up at one point and he “wasn’t far off” from entering the game, according to Gibbons. The left-hander doesn’t typically throw between starts, but this mid-game warmup will function as an unofficial bullpen session. He says it won’t mess with his routine as he prepares for Game 6 on Friday.
“I’ll be ready,” Price said. “It’s still pitching. It’s still baseball, something I’ve done for a long time. Just go out there, help this team win and get outs.”
Toronto now trails the ALCS 3-2 heading to Kansas City for a Game 6 matchup against Yordano Ventura Friday.
Sanchez and Osuna were both prepared to pitch multiple innings if called upon Wednesday. Considering that the Blue Jays didn’t want to use Mark Lowe or Liam Hendriks Wednesday, the odds seemed good that one or both of the Blue Jays’ top young right-handers would be used extensively.
“This is the playoffs. For us there’s no tomorrow,” Osuna said. “For them there’s tomorrow, but not for us, so you have to be ready to go.”
Sanchez was prepared in case he had to enter the game early. Fifth inning? Fourth inning? “They told me to be ready any time.”
Ultimately, the Blue Jays needed just eight pitches from Sanchez and only five from Osuna. Sanchez entered the game with a runner on base intent on protecting Estrada’s lead.
“You don’t want to spoil the outing by Marco which was phenomenal,” Sanchez said. As for Osuna, the cracked fingernail that’s been bothering him continues to progress. “I felt good today,” he said. “I’ll be 100 per cent for Friday.”
The duo has been nothing short of dominant in October. Sanchez has now pitched 7.0 scoreless post-season innings for the Blue Jays, striking out six. Osuna has pitched 7.1 innings with six strikeouts and a 1.23 ERA. Both are vitally important to the Blue Jays’ chances of completing an ALCS comeback. Not only are they pitching their best baseball of the season, there’s a significant drop-off from the two rookie right-handers to the rest of the bullpen, with the possible exception of Lowe.
Lining up a pitching staff is one thing and shutting down the Royals for two more games is another. The Blue Jays still have lots of work ahead, but thanks to Estrada, they’re ideally-positioned for the remainder of the ALCS instead of having to scramble for answers.
