Just Slid In
With the MLB regular season coming to a close, the playoff picture, and Toronto’s schedule en route to a possible 3rd World Series is officially set. But it wasn’t without any significant parody, as the Jays hadn’t solidified their postseason position until the scorching hot Seattle Mariners were eliminated after losing 6-1 to the Texas Rangers in game 161 on Saturday night.
The Blue Jays finished the season 89-73 (.549), good enough for the final wild card position in the American League, and 3rd in the AL East. As a result they will play the worst of the division leaders in the wild card round, the Minnesota Twins. The Twins finished the season 87-75, and despite winning the AL Central division they are the losingest team in the American League playoff picture.
Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, they haven’t had much recent postseason success. In fact, they haven’t won a postseason game since their 4-1 ALCS loss to the Cleveland Guardians.
Wild Card Round
Heading in to the wild card round, the Minnesota Twins are -120 home favourites according to Bet365. On the other hand, the Blue Jays are +100 to win the series. Despite being on the road, the Blue Jays hold a slight pitching advantage. Toronto finished the regular season with an MLB 2nd-lowest starting pitching ERA of 3.78. Yet the dominant Jays staff may have met their postseason match in the Twins, as they had the 3rd-lowest starting pitching ERA at just 3.84.
A major positive Jays fans can bank on is the Twins lack of success against mediocre, decent, good and great baseball teams. They had most of their success during the regular season beating up on the absolute worst teams the Major Leagues had to offer this year.
To top it off, the Twins saw a lot more bad teams, and the Jays saw a lot more good baseball teams than the league averages. In fact, the Blue Jays have seen the most teams over .500 of any playoff team, and the Twins have seen the least.
If that’s any indication, the 89-win Blue Jays should be an absolute handful for Minnesota, even on their own grass.
Game 1 – Blue Jays (-105) @ Minnesota Twins (-115)
Tuesday, October 3rd, 4:38 PM
Starting pitchers: Kevin Gausman (3.16 ERA) vs. Pablo Lopez (3.66 ERA)
Game 2 – Blue Jays @ Minnesota Twins
Wednesday, October 4th, 4:38 PM
Starting pitchers: José Berríos (3.65 ERA) vs. Sonny Gray (2.79 ERA)
Game 3, *If Necessary – @ Minnesota Twins
Thursday, October 5th, TBD
Starting pitchers: Chris Bassitt (3.60 ERA) vs. Joe Ryan (4.51 ERA)
American League Division Series
If the Blue Jays manage their way through the wild card round and past the Minnesota Twins, they are guaranteed to face the AL West champion, 90-win Houston Astros. The Astros would likely be the Jays biggest test before a possible World Series matchup with either the Atlanta Braves or the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Game 1 – @ Houston Astros
Saturday, October 7th, TBD
Probable starting pitchers: Chris Bassitt (3.60 ERA)/Yusei Kikuchi (3.87 ERA)/Kevin Gausman (3.16 ERA)
vs. Justin Verlander (3.22 ERA)
Game 2 – @ Houston Astros
Sunday, October 8th, TBD
Probable starting pitchers: Yusei Kikuchi (3.87 ERA)/Kevin Gausman (3.16 ERA)/José Berríos (3.65 ERA)
vs. Framber Valdez (3.46 ERA)
Game 3 – vs. Houston Astros
Tuesday, October 10th, TBD
Probable starting pitchers: Kevin Gausman (3.16 ERA)/José Berríos (3.65 ERA)/Chris Bassit (3.60 ERA)
vs. Cristian Javier (4.73)/J.P. France (3.83)
Game 4, *If Necessary – vs. Houston Astros
Wednesday, October 11th, TBD
Probable starting pitchers: José Berríos (3.65 ERA)/Chris Bassit (3.60 ERA)/Yusei Kikuchi (3.87 ERA) vs. Cristian Javier (4.73)/J.P. France (3.83)/Justin Verlander (3.22 ERA)
Game 5, *If Necessary – @ Houston Astros
Friday, October 13th, TBD
Probable starting pitchers: Chris Bassit (3.60 ERA)/Yusei Kikuchi (3.87 ERA)/Kevin Gausman (3.16 ERA) vs. J.P. France (3.83)/Justin Verlander (3.22 ERA)/Framber Valdez (3.46 ERA)
American League Championship Series
If the Blue Jays perform well enough to knock off the Houston Astros they would then most likely run into the Baltimore Orioles. If it’s not the Orioles it would be the Tampa Bay Rays or the Texas Rangers.
American League Pennant Odds:
Houston Astros (90-72) +220
Baltimore Orioles (101-61) +260
Tampa Bay Rays (99-63) +500
Texas Rangers (90-72) +700
Toronto Blue Jays (89-73) +700
Minnesota Twins (87-75) +700
via Bet365
Game 1 – @ Baltimore Orioles/Tampa Bay Rays/Texas Rangers
Sunday/Monday, October 15th/16th, TBD
Game 2 – @ Baltimore Orioles/Tampa Bay Rays/Texas Rangers
Monday/Tuesday, October 16th/17th, TBD
Game 3 – vs. Baltimore Orioles/Tampa Bay Rays/Texas Rangers
Wednesday/Thursday, October 18th/19th, TBD
Game 4 – vs. Baltimore Orioles/Tampa Bay Rays/Texas Rangers
Thursday/Friday, October 19th/20th, TBD
Game 5, *If Necessary – vs. Baltimore Orioles/Tampa Bay Rays/Texas Rangers
Friday/Saturday, October 20th/21th, TBD
Game 6, *If Necessary – @ Baltimore Orioles/Tampa Bay Rays/Texas Rangers
Sunday/Monday, October 22nd/23rd, TBD
Game 7, *If Necessary – @ Baltimore Orioles/Tampa Bay Rays/Texas Rangers
Monday/Tuesday, October 23rd/24th, TBD
World Series
National League Pennant Odds:
Atlanta Braves (104-58) +125
Los Angeles Dodgers (100-62) +200
Philadelphia Phillies (90-72) +600
Milwaukee Brewers (92-70) +900
Miami Marlins (84-77) +1700 *Only played 161 games due to a rain out in New York that was unnecessary after they clinched
Arizona Diamondbacks (84-78) +1800
Via Bet365
Game 1 – @ Atlanta Braves/Los Angeles Dodgers/Milwaukee Brewers/Philadelphia Phillies or vs. Miami Marlins/Arizona Diamondbacks
Friday, October 27th, TBD
Game 2 – @ Atlanta Braves/Los Angeles Dodgers/Milwaukee Brewers/Philadelphia Phillies or vs. Miami Marlins/Arizona Diamondbacks
Saturday, October 28th, TBD
Game 3 – vs. Atlanta Braves/Los Angeles Dodgers/Milwaukee Brewers/Philadelphia Phillies or @ Miami Marlins/Arizona Diamondbacks
Monday, October 30th, TBD
Game 4 – vs. Atlanta Braves/Los Angeles Dodgers/Milwaukee Brewers/Philadelphia Phillies or @ Miami Marlins/Arizona Diamondbacks
Tuesday, October 31st, TBD
Game 5, *If Necessary – vs. Atlanta Braves/Los Angeles Dodgers/Milwaukee Brewers/Philadelphia Phillies or @ Miami Marlins/Arizona Diamondbacks
Wednesday, November 1st, TBD
Game 6, *If Necessary – @ Atlanta Braves/Los Angeles Dodgers/Milwaukee Brewers/Philadelphia Phillies or vs. Miami Marlins/Arizona Diamondbacks
Friday, November 3rd, TBD
Game 7, *If Necessary – @ Atlanta Braves/Los Angeles Dodgers/Milwaukee Brewers/Philadelphia Phillies or vs. Miami Marlins/Arizona Diamondbacks
Saturday, November 4th, TBD
(Photo via bvmsports.com)