The outlook looked bleak for the Toronto Blue Jays a few weeks ago after their home sweep by the Texas Rangers. A four-game losing streak had pushed Toronto out of the playoff picture.
That’s when Blue Jays outfielder George Springer — a regular at fall games and a World Series champion in 2017 — showed all his stuff in the locker room.
“George went to meet each of the guys in the locker room, asking them not to give up, to hang in there,” Blue Jays reliever Jordan Romano said. It was an important gesture. »
“I think it helped the guys on our team, who all have character, to stay focused on the goal,” he added.
The Blue Jays responded with seven wins in their next nine games. The Torontonians then punched their ticket to the playoffs on Saturday night, and they will meet Quebecer Édouard Julien as well as the Minnesota Twins in a best-of-three series starting Tuesday at Target Field.
“I’m not going to publicly repeat what I told them, but basically I just encouraged the guys to persevere,” Springer said. It’s baseball; Things like that happen sometimes. We answered the call, and here we are now [en séries éliminatoires]. »
Head to the Twins
Punching their playoff ticket before the final game of the regular season — an 8-12 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays — allowed the Blue Jays to give Kevin Gausman an extra day of rest before to face the Twins.
He should get a start during this series, as will Chris Bassitt and former Twins starting pitcher Jose Berrios. The Blue Jays are expected to reveal their starting lineup for the playoffs Tuesday morning.
“Our confidence level is very high right now,” admitted Blue Jays manager John Schneider. We just had to qualify. It hasn’t been easy. »
“So, from now on, the team will be built for the playoffs,” he added.
The Twins (87-75) and the Blue Jays (89-73) shared the honors of their six-game series this season. Each team won two away games and one at home.
The Twins, champions of the American League Central section, will host all games against the Blue Jays. The Torontonians have compiled a record of 46-35 away this season, and 43-38 at the Rogers Centre.
The winning club of this series will then meet the Houston Astros in a best-of-five-game series.
“We were a little more efficient away from home this season, which is quite strange,” agreed Schneider on Sunday at the Rogers Centre. But we’re going to do everything we can to have to come home and play in front of our fans. »
“Jump onto the field”
The Blue Jays have not tasted a playoff victory since 2016, when they reached the American Championship Series for a second straight season. The Blue Jays were swept in the American Draft Series last year and in 2020.
“Baseball is a tough sport, and the Eastern Section [de l’Américaine] is raised, Schneider said. A ton of pressure was taken off the players’ shoulders after punching their ticket to the playoffs. Expectations were very high, starting with spring training camp. »
“People can say we met expectations or we failed, but the fact remains that we are in the playoffs, and the guys really appreciate that. They can’t wait for it to start, because they know how good they are,” he continued.
The Rays will meet the Texas Rangers in the other series between American drafted teams. The winning club of this duel will then have to face the favorites, the Baltimore Orioles.
The champion teams of the sectional series will advance to the American championship series. And the American champions will face the National champions in a best-of-seven-game World Series starting October 27.
“We have the potential to lift the trophy at the end of the season, I am sure of it,” said Kevin Kiermaier. We have all the talent needed on paper. We have already demonstrated that we are capable of standing up to the best teams in the Major Leagues.
“Now we just have to jump on the pitch, under the lights, and play as we are capable,” he concluded.