Here are six players to watch as the Toronto Blue Jays take on the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series.
RHP Johnny Cueto, Royals
The Royals had the AL Central wrapped up, when, sometime around Canada Day? At any rate, whatever late-season drama surrounded the team was usually provided by free-agent-to-be Johnny Cueto, who suffered a career-long, five-game losing streak between Aug. 21-Sept. 13 before running together four consecutive starts of three runs or less.
Cueto was historically good in Game 5 of the AL Division Series and will start Game 3 at the Rogers Centre against Marcus Stroman. He is a tailor-made target for Blue Jays fans. Cueto could bury the Blue Jays – or, for that matter, the Royals.
RHP Kelvin Herrera, Royals
If there is a pronounced “on paper” edge in this series, it goes to the Royals in the bullpen and while closer Wade Davis gets most of the headlines, set-up man Kelvin Herrera has allowed just two hits in 24 career matchups with Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Josh Donaldson. Small sample sizes, but something to keep an eye on, especially since Davis has strong career numbers against Bautista, too.
C Russell Martin, Blue Jays
The Royals struck out less often than any other Major League team during the regular season, they drew the second-fewest bases on balls and they made the greatest amount of contact. In other words, the ball is always in play.
In addition to all that, the Royals also stole the fifth-most bases, meaning they also try to push the envelope.
Thus, Russell Martin will need to not only help keep young pitchers such as Stroman, Aaron Sanchez and Roberto Osuna on track through pressure-filled situations, but he’ll also be called on to keep the Royals at bay on the bases.
He’ll be the busiest individual player in this series, on both teams.
RHP Aaron Sanchez, Blue Jays
Left-hander Aaron Loup is with the Blue Jays, which at least gives manager John Gibbons a chance for one or two late-inning platoon advantages. However, with Brett Cecil out due to a torn calf muscle, Sanchez, who through the AL Division Series faced more hitters than any other reliever except for the Houston Astros’ Tony Sipp, will need to deal with both lefty and righty hitters in late-game situations.
The Jays have made some slight mechanical adjustments, and look for Sanchez to continue to incorporate his curve and cutter against the Royals as a means of keeping them off-balance and guard against familiarity.
SS Troy Tulowitzki, Blue Jays
Credit Encarnacion for his patience against the Texas Rangers, who made pitching around him the focal point of their gameplan. No disrespect to Chris Colabello, but if Troy Tulowitzki is in form and hitting behind Encarnacion, that decision becomes much more difficult. Factor in that Colabello’s place in the lineup might be sacrificed for the superior defence of Justin Smoak – especially since the Royals are running out nothing but right-handed starters – and Tulowitzki becomes even more important. Just as Martin, his defence will be huge, too.
IF Ben Zobrist, Royals
Ben Zobrist loves the Rogers Centre, with a .915 career OPS in the facility, and is coming off a nice AL Division Series against the Houston Astros.
He homered three times in two games during the teams’ August series, going deep from both sides of the plate on Aug. 1 (against Mark Buehrle and Mark Lowe) and taking Roberto Osuna deep in the eighth inning on Aug. 2.
As a former Tampa Bay Rays player, he has a history of breaking the Blue Jays’ hearts.
The Call:
Blue Jays in six.