After Friday’s false start, the Blue Jays will look to officially clinch a spot in the post-season when their three-game series against the Kansas City Royals continues on Saturday night at Kauffman Stadium.
The Jays could have punched their ticket to the playoffs the night before, but to do it they needed to defeat the Royals while two of the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians had to lose as well. The Tigers lost, but the Red Sox and Guardians both won.
The out-of-town scoreboard wouldn’t have mattered anyways because any thoughts of clinching on Friday went flying out the window early in the night when Max Scherzer allowed seven runs and couldn’t get out of the first inning in what eventually became a 20-1 loss.
Jays right-hander Shane Bieber is set to make his sixth start since returning from Tommy John surgery in late August. Bieber has surrendered three earned runs or fewer in four of those outings, which likely assures him of starting Game 1 or 2 of an upcoming playoff series.
The Jays desperately require Bieber to pitch deep into the ball game after Scherzer lasted just two-thirds of an inning in a lopsided loss on Friday. Manager John Schneider needed to get 5 1/3 innings out of his relievers before he eventually waved a white flag by bringing catcher Tyler Heineman and infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa into the game to pitch.
Braydon Fisher, Tommy Nance, Yariel Rodriguez and Brendon Little were the four relievers used by Schneider. Seranthony Dom铆nguez, Jeff Hoffman, Louis Varland and Eric Lauer got the night off while Little only tossed one-third of an inning, which might negate the need to call up an additional arm from the minors.
The Royals will counter with left-hander Noah Cameron. The 26-year-old has enjoyed a standout rookie season and he has allowed more than three earned runs in just one of his last seven starts. The Jays got their first look at Cameron on Aug. 2 when they scored four runs across 6 1/3 innings in a game they eventually won 4-2.
Game time, TV, probable pitchers
Sat. Sept. 20, 7:10 p.m. on Sportsnet: RHP Shane Bieber (3-1, 3.72) vs. LHP Noah Cameron (8-7, 2.98)
Sun. Sept. 21, 2:10 p.m. on Sportsnet: RHP Trey Yesavage (0-0, 1.80) vs. RHP Michael Wacha (9-12, 3.79)
Looking ahead
Following this series, the Jays will return home for the final week of the regular season to play three games each against the Red Sox and Rays. After that, they likely will be staying at home to prepare for their first playoff opponent.
Gregor Chisholm is a Toronto-based baseball columnist for the
Star. Follow him on Twitter: or reach him via email: gchisholm@thestar.ca.
Mike Wilner is a Toronto-based baseball columnist for the Star
and host of the baseball podcast 鈥淒eep Left Field.鈥 Follow him on
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