The Toronto Blue Jays’ task for Sunday afternoon is evident once they face the visiting Tampa Bay Rays within the ultimate sport of the common season.
If the Blue Jays (93-68) win, they’ll end first within the American League East. In the event that they occur to stumble, a loss by the New York Yankees additionally would work for them.
Toronto and New York are tied atop the division, however the Blue Jays maintain the tiebreaker as a result of they gained the season collection between the groups 8-5.
The Blue Jays gained their third in a row on Saturday, 5-1 over the Rays (77-84) with rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage pitching 5 scoreless innings for his first win in his third profession main league begin.
“Actually spectacular for a 22-year-old who began the yr in (Class A),” Toronto supervisor John Schneider mentioned. “He confirmed us that he can pitch in large spots, and he loved the second somewhat bit. He made large pitches and picked up our protection.”
The Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles 6-1 on Saturday to maintain tempo with Toronto however need assistance from Tampa Bay.
Toronto plans to entrust the potential clinching sport to right-hander Kevin Gausman (10-11, 3.47 ERA). Gausman is 8-9 with a 3.91 ERA in 25 profession video games (23 begins) in opposition to the Rays. He’s 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in opposition to them in two begins this season.
The Rays are scheduled to start out rookie left-hander Ian Seymour (4-2, 2.85). He allowed one unearned run over seven in innings on Sept. 17 in opposition to Toronto in Tampa Bay’s 2-1 house victory.
He shall be dealing with a assured opponent.
“There was confidence inside this group, and myself and the teaching workers since Day 1,” Schneider mentioned. “And now it comes down to at least one sport to win the division. I believe that if we give attention to taking part in our sport, we shall be superb. We have now been actually good at that over 161 video games, so I do not anticipate it to alter for 162.”
Infielder Ernie Clement, whose two-run double opened the scoring in a three-run second on Saturday, mentioned, “There isn’t a doubt in our minds that we are able to win a World Collection.
“I believe we have now the items,” he added. “We have now the mindset.”
Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk snapped an 0-for-24 drought with a house run within the seventh on Saturday.
Seymour, who made his main league debut on June 9, shall be making his fifth begin and nineteenth look.
“Trying again on the yr and the place I began and the place I completed, being right here is simply one thing I am so grateful for,” Seymour mentioned. “I’ll put all the things I’ve into going into the offseason on an excellent observe.”
Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda is trying ahead to Sunday. He returned from a fractured left wrist on Friday to homer in his first at-bat and homered once more on Saturday.
“It’ll be actually enjoyable and pleasing,” Aranda mentioned. “The Blue Jays are taking part in playoff baseball proper now. Identical with the Yankees.”
Tampa Bay’s Yandy Diaz was 1-for-2 on Saturday and left the sport with a .300 batting common. It’s doable he is not going to play on Sunday.
Tampa Bay is three stolen bases wanting matching the group report of 194 set in 2009.
“We have now a group that was constructed with quite a lot of pace,” Rays supervisor Kevin Money mentioned. “Our guys have executed an excellent job of constructing higher selections on the bases than we have now prior to now.”
–Area Degree Media
