The Toronto Blue Jays are going with pitcher Kevin Gausman to start Game 2 of the Wild Card series against the Seattle Mariners, with Toronto in need of a win to keep its season alive.
Facing Gausman will be Robbie Ray, the former Blue Jays ace who won the Cy Young Award with Toronto last season. The Blue Jays signed Gausman to a five-year, $110-million contract in free agency days before Ray joined the Mariners in free agency on a five-year, $115-million deal.
Gausman was pulled early from his last start against the Boston Red Sox due to a cut on his right middle finger.
The right-hander started one game against the Mariners in 2022, allowing two earned runs on seven hits while striking out three in five innings pitched.
In the six games he's started following a Blue Jays loss, Gausman is 3-1, recording a 1.41 ERA, 1.04 WHIP with 43 strikeouts and only eight walks. He has allowed zero earned runs in three of his last four starts after a loss.
The 31-year-old finished the regular season with a 12-10 record, registering a 3.35 ERA, 205 strikeouts, 28 walks in 31 starts and 174.2 innings of work.
“I’ve never pitched in an elimination game before. But I started the last game of the season in ‘16 (with the Baltimore Orioles) and we needed to win that game,” Gausman said. “I’ve pitched a lot of meaningful games in my career… just going to go out there and pitch to my strengths.”
Ray, meanwhile, was not as dominant as he was in 2021 but remains a force on the mound. In 32 starts this season, he pitched to a 3.71 ERA with 212 strikeouts and 62 walks.
“It’s obviously going to be very loud here,” Ray said Friday. “The roof is closed. (It’s) going to be packed. The fans here are loud, they love baseball, they love the Blue Jays.
“For me, it’s just understanding that we’re still playing baseball, and we just have to continue to play the way that we have that has gotten us here. Not letting the situation get too big, not letting the crowd control the narrative.”
The Blue Jays lost 4-0 in Game 1 on Friday with Alek Manoah on the mound. Game 2 is scheduled for 4:07 p.m. ET on Saturday and fans can watch on Sportsnet and SN NOW.
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