AL Wild Card Round: Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Rays

[Slade]

[Laika]

I’d like to know the Jays state-of-mind going into the series before wagering any coin

 

Travis Shaw was quoted as saying there are just so many intangibles that if they don't win game 1 to get some confidence they will pack it in

[Krylian]

Travis Shaw was quoted as saying there are just so many intangibles that if they don't win game 1 to get some confidence they will pack it in

 

"Sounds like an "All in on the Jays" if I ever heard one.

[RobinThicc]

Game 2 is the most important game of the series, so not surprising Ryu is going game 2

[Jays24]

I don't know how I feel about the rotation. I dont mind Ryu in game 2 since he should be able to pitch in Game 1 of the next series if we make it that far.

 

My only issue is using Shoemaker over Walker. Mainly because Shoemaker will require us to use an uncertain Ray with him. Walker has been pretty damn good this year.

[jaysguy44]

Shoemaker over Walker? Wtf....

[Stangstag]

Shoemaker over Walker? Wtf....

 

Now it makes even less sense that they pulled Walker early during his last start.

[Stangstag]

I feel like we’re gonna see some weird s*** happen this series with the jays bullpen/pitching changes/piggybacking. Definitely gonna have to piece it together for a win

[Orgfiller]

Walker's peripherals are much worse than his ERA based results indicate. His FIP is fine/average but his xFIP is poor, his command has been iffy with the Blue Jays and he's been walking a lot more. Shoemaker has been beat up by the longball but aside from that his peripherals are pretty good and his sample is pretty small anyway. There shouldn't really be a preference of one over the other, they're not the guys you want starting short series playoff games anyway and I imagine both will be on extremely short leashes unlike Ryu.

[wilko]

I feel like we’re gonna see some weird s*** happen this series with the jays bullpen/pitching changes/piggybacking. Definitely gonna have to piece it together for a win

 

A lot of smoke and mirrors. You can get away with it in a 3 game series but after that...

[max silver]

I'm intrigued by the Shoemaker game 1 start. He flashed some impressive mid 90's velocity in that outing. Combined with Ray and Pearson that could certainly cover 6 or 7 innings to start the game.

[Abomination]

I'm intrigued by the Shoemaker game 1 start. He flashed some impressive mid 90's velocity in that outing. Combined with Ray and Pearson that could certainly cover 6 or 7 innings to start the game.

 

Give them each once through the order. It's not a terrible idea imo.

[glory]

Gotta use an opener against the Rays, right? They stack their lineup all the time depending on handedness.

 

Walker gets nuked by LHBs. Probably gotta go Ray/Walker.

 

Might even make sense to go Borucki/Shoemaker/Ray/Merryweather or something. Then Ryu. Then whatever is left for game 3.

 

I despise openers and all the nonsense the Rays do, but I'll make an exception for this series. Beat them at their own annoying game.

[Jimcanuck]

Give them each once through the order. It's not a terrible idea imo.

 

Still gotta play it by ear. Every time a pitching change is made, there is a risk the new guy is going to s*** the bed.

[Spanky99]

 

Ah, the Shoe/Ray piggy-back game 1, should be good.

[Spanky99]

Give them each once through the order. It's not a terrible idea imo.

 

Yeah man, don't get the second guessing really. It's to the Jays strength of multi inning guys.

[connorp]

Still gotta play it by ear. Every time a pitching change is made, there is a risk the new guy is going to s*** the bed.

 

Yeah, hopefully it’s not a set thing where it’s like this guy just dominated two innings and we’ll give the ball to Ray who may walk the bases loaded in 3 batters

[Grant77]

I like this move better than starting Walker. Give Shoemaker 2 times through and depending on what they do with the lineup, use the bullpen accordingly. There's no reason you can't do Shoe for 4, and then 5 different relievers for an inning each. Everyone is fully rested.

[Virgil_Hiltz]

Let them go until it appears to they're gassed out or getting into trouble. Why make assumptions and limit your options later.

[saskjayfan]

when do they have to declare the 28 man playoff roster?

[KevinGregg]

when do they have to declare the 28 man playoff roster?

 

Dan said Tuesday morning

[KevinGregg]

I like this move better than starting Walker. Give Shoemaker 2 times through and depending on what they do with the lineup, use the bullpen accordingly. There's no reason you can't do Shoe for 4, and then 5 different relievers for an inning each. Everyone is fully rested.

 

I think Shoemaker will be followed by Ray, then hopefully most of the good releivers will be fresh for game 2 and 3

[Spanky99]

Still gotta play it by ear. Every time a pitching change is made, there is a risk the new guy is going to s*** the bed.

 

I thought this was obvious, apparently not.

[bones10]

Just win 2 out of 3 games, call it a day.

[Abomination]

MLB has a bracket challenge open to Canadians as well:

 

https://www.mlb.com/brackets/postseason

[dineke]

At least if we lose to the rays they don't have any fans to troll us.

[Dr. Dinger]

A few things:

 

- Other than Ryu, the Jays bullpen is a lot more reliable than any of our starters

- Putting Ryu in game 2 let's the Jays lean more heavily on the pen in G1 and G3 rather than on multiple consecutive days

- Jays may feel that Ryu vs Glasnow is a more winnable game vs 'wasting' his start against Snell (they're both lethal tho)

- Ryu better on 5 days of rest as has been repeatedly stated

- Bullpen is thoroughly rested at the moment so the most bullpenny game ought to be the first one anyway

- Ryu would still be set up for 2 starts in a theoretical 7 game 2nd round series regardless of whether he starts G1 or G2 here

- Shoemaker max twice through the order

- Expect to see Pearson as the first arm out of the pen

[Laika]

Also, they can start Kirk at C game 1!

[Dr. Dinger]

Also, they can start Kirk at C game 1!

 

Honestly that's a very smart point and I'm jealous it didn't occur to me.

[Jays24]

A few things:

 

- Other than Ryu, the Jays bullpen is a lot more reliable than any of our starters

- Putting Ryu in game 2 let's the Jays lean more heavily on the pen in G1 and G3 rather than on multiple consecutive days

- Jays may feel that Ryu vs Glasnow is a more winnable game vs 'wasting' his start against Snell (they're both lethal tho)

- Ryu better on 5 days of rest as has been repeatedly stated

- Bullpen is thoroughly rested at the moment so the most bullpenny game ought to be the first one anyway

- Ryu would still be set up for 2 starts in a theoretical 7 game 2nd round series regardless of whether he starts G1 or G2 here

- Shoemaker max twice through the order

- Expect to see Pearson as the first arm out of the pen

 

I believe the next round is a best out of 5. If that is the case then we NEED Ryu to start game 1 so he could start game 5 as well.

 

I think there's a big layoff after the wild card round to get into the bubble so maybe Ryu will be able to pitch twice in that series if required.