After three scoreless innings from Jose Berrios, the Toronto Blue Jays brought Yusei Kikuchi out of the bullpen in the fourth inning.
Berrios struck out five over three innings while walking one and allowing just three hits.
He started the fourth inning to face Royce Lewis, walking the Game 1 hero, but was lifted in favour of Kikuchi, a southpaw, with three of the next four hitters due up being lefties.
The Minnesota Twins had four left-handed hitters in their lineup for Game 2 of the wild-card series, so the Blue Jays will look to force the Twins to make some tough lineup decisions early in the potential series-clinching game.
In 2023, Berrios allowed a .261 average against lefties with 16 home runs. Kikuchi held hitters in the same-handed matchup to a .214 average and just six home runs.
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