Blue Jays name Manoah as Game 1 starter
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To nobody's surprise, Toronto Blue Jays ace Alek Manoah has been named the Game 1 starter for the American League Wild-Card series against the Seattle Mariners.
The opening game of the three-game series will take place Friday at 4:07pm ET in Toronto. Game 2 will take place at the same time Saturday, with Game 3. if necessary, taking place Sunday at 2:07pm ET.
The 24-year-old All-Star has put up impressive numbers during his second season in the Majors, posting a 16-7 record with a 2.24 ERA and 180 strikeouts over 31 starts and 196.2 innings pitched.
Kevin Gausman believed to be the most likely Game 2 starter for the Jays while either Ross Stripling or Jose Berrios would start a potential Game 3. All games will be played in Toronto during the wild-card series.
"We’re going to have 50,000 on our side," Gausman said Wednesday of having homefield advantage. "They’re going to feel that and they’re going to be in our town, right? Everywhere they go they’re going to be reminded that everybody’s against them. It’s intimidating."
The Mariners have yet to name any of their starting pitchers for the series.
The Blue Jays wrapped up the regular season with a split of a doubleheader with the Baltimore Orioles and finished 92-70.