Daniel Labude

Lets Go Blue Jays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would in a second. Travis is way better on offense, but his defense is still really good to great at times.

PREVIEW KANSAS CITY -- The Blue Jays know their offense won't be shut down for very long, but they also understand they have to hurry. The Royals shut them out, 5-0, in Game 1 on Friday night and can grab an assertive 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series with another win at Kauffman Stadium this afternoon (3:30 ET, FOX Sports 1/Sportsnet). The Blue Jays' hopes of evening the ALCS will fall on David Price, who will oppose Yordano Ventura as the veteran lefty tries to improve on a 5.04 career postseason ERA. Really, though, their hopes will rest on a world-beating offense that needs to figure it out quickly -- and may have to do so without cleanup hitter Edwin Encarnacion. The slugger exited the eighth inning of Game 1 with a ligament sprain in his left middle finger, an ailment that has him considered day to day. "It [stinks]," Toronto left fielder Ben Revere said of Encarnacion's injury. "He's been dealing with that this whole year. It [stinks] to have to deal with that, but he's going to battle through it. He's the type of guy who has been playing through pain the whole year, but he hit like 40 home runs. Hopefully, he'll be ready to go, and I think he will be." For what it's worth, teams winning Game 1 have gone on to win 28 of the past 45 ALCS matchups. Since the ALCS expanded to seven games in 1985 -- the year the Royals overcame a 3-1 deficit to beat the Blue Jays, then went on to beat the Cardinals in the World Series -- teams winning Game 1 have gone on to win 55 percent of the time. Those odds are far more favorable than what the Blue Jays overcame against the Rangers in the AL Division Series, when they became just the third team to win a best-of-five series despite losing the first two at home. On the other side will be Ventura, the enigmatic right-hander who gave up five runs in seven innings when he faced Toronto at Rogers Centre on Aug. 1. "It's a very talented group, a lot of power, a lot of experience," Ventura said through a translator. "But on the other end, [i've] got to do what [i do] best and stay within my game." Price will be making his first start in eight days, five days after a three-inning, 50-pitch relief appearance at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The ace left-hander has given up 30 runs (28 earned) in 50 career postseason innings, but he's posted a 1.93 ERA in 23 1/3 innings against Kansas City over the past two years. Price is winless in six postseason starts. "I know [a win] is going to come," he said. "I have 100-percent confidence in myself. I know my teammates do as well, and our coaching staff. This is part of it. You've got to be able to live in the moment. I want to be able to step up for my teammates and this organization and all our fans in Canada." Three things to know about this game • With Price on the mound, Russell Martin will be back behind the plate for the Blue Jays, setting up a highly anticipated matchup. Martin threw out a Major League-leading 44 percent of would-be basestealers during the regular season. The Royals, meanwhile, stole the second-most bases in the AL. • Alex Rios, Kansas City's No. 9 hitter, leads the team in plate appearances and overall success against Price. The veteran right fielder is 12-for-30 with two homers, four doubles and a triple against the 30-year-old southpaw. Toronto's hitters are mostly unfamiliar with Ventura. None of the Blue Jays' hitters have faced him more than eight times. • Royals pitchers will enter Game 2 riding a franchise-record 16-inning postseason scoreless streak. The previous club mark was 15 innings against the Cardinals in the 1985 World Series, from the second inning of Game 5 to the seventh inning of Game 6. The Blue Jays were shut out just five times during the regular season. Alden Gonzalez is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @Alden_Gonzalez and Facebook , and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. Toronto Blue Jays 1. Ben Revere 2. Josh Donaldson 3. Jose Bautista 4. Edwin Encarnacion 5. Chris Colabello 6. Troy Tulowitzki 7. Russell Martin 8. Kevin Pillar 9. Ryan Goins Kansas City Royals 1. Alcides Escobar 2. Ben Zobrist 3. Lorenzo Cain 4. Eric Hosmer 5. Kendrys Morales 6. Mike Moustakas 7. Salvador Perez 8. Alex Gordon 9. Alex Rios Today is the game that we show the world the real Toronto Blue Jays!!!!!!! The offense will come alive and we will see the Price we all know and love. Let the ball fly!!!!!!!!

Still waiting on the offense from the regular season. If we can score 6 runs or even 4 we will have a chance in every game.

Yost>Gibby so far

No more Hawkins...has he been good at all for us

2 on again...at least put Smoak in to hit...come on Gibby

Let Pompey hit over carrera

Looks like the same guy they showed in Texas

Our hitters need to adjust to their game plan.....away....away...away

We have had more base runners than the royals...looking for a positive going forward

It is clear, but he is taking way to many pitches. Looking for the walk instead of swinging

For what...we have so many hitters who have gone MIA in the playoffs. We just had a guy throw 40 pitches in an inning and we didn't get a hit.

Right down the middle.. wtf

Can't get hits....seems like we are just going through motions

Missed the mistake pitch 2 straight times then they just go outside

Have to score!!!!!! Estrada held us in at this point. We got 4 innings to wake up!

Lol

Hittable pitch to Navarro

Fastball right down the middle...lol

Omg...

We need to catch fire!!!!

They were close...difference is our team won't hit that pitch and the royals just hit it the other way. We need to get to Volquez, he is throwing hittable pitches

Jays refuse to hit the ball opposite field...come on Jays!!!!!!!!!!

The big problem is the offense....haven't shown up yet. Gotta get going this inning!!!!!!!