The Blue Jays look like American League favorites after sweeping the Rangers
The fan-made banner hanging in Rogers Center said it all:
“Would rather get punched in May than get knocked out in October."
There’s bad blood between the Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers, there’s no doubt about that. It existed before that infamous Rougned Odor punch of Jose Bautista and it will persist after this series.
No matter what round of the bout this was, there’s absolutely no debate, the Blue Jays won in decisive, unimpeachable fashion.
A 3-0 sweep, clinched by an errant throw from Odor that allowed Josh Donaldson to score the winning run in the 10th inning Sunday night, advanced Toronto to the ALCS with confidence high and bodies rested.
They’ll enter as the favorites to win the American League pennant.
For a sport defined by steadiness, things sure can change fast in October.
Less than a week ago, the Blue Jays were playing one game for the chance to make the playoffs proper — that was no cake walk, but with a little help from Baltimore Orioles’ manager Buck Showalter and a massive game-winning homer from Edwin Encarnacion, the Blue Jays won the AL Wild Card Game and set up the series with Texas.
Then they pounded Cole Hamels.
Then they pounded Yu Darvish.
Then they pounded Colby Lewis, and when that proved not to be enough, the Blue Jays bullpen gave the team a shot by allowing only one hit in 4.1 innings.
Every area — hitting, starting pitching, and the bullpen — is clicking for the Blue Jays right now. Their biggest concern has to be ace Aaron Sanchez, who was one of the best pitchers in the American League (15-2 3.00 ERA) this season. That’s a good concern to have.
No matter who they face in the ALCS — it looks like it will be the Indians — Toronto has to be considered the favorites. A furious 3-0 comeback by Boston could make that gap tight, but that’s a bridge to cross if that improbability comes to pass.
As for Cleveland, which has played wonderful baseball — surprisingly — so far in their ALDS series with Boston, it’s hard to see them having the same horses to keep up with Toronto over a seven-game series.
In a one game winner-take-all showdown, anything can happen. In a five-game series, there’s a ton of room for variance. But while the expected doesn’t always happen in a seven-game set, the best team usually wins.
Cleveland will be hard pressed with its starting pitching to match the Blue Jays, particularly if Toronto’s bats stay as hot as they currently are.
Seven days ago, the Blue Jays clinched — on the final day of the season — a chance to play one more game.
Now there’s a clear path to the World Series — four games against an opponent they should be favorited against with a chance to set up their rotation and bullpen just as they see fit.
It’s amazing how fast things can change in October.
