Canadian media SportsNet introduced the strategic parts to watch in the final week of Toronto’s challenge to advance to the postseason on the 26th (Korea Standard Time). SportsNet, which paid attention to Brandon Belt’s return and Cam Eden’s use of pinch runners, last analyzed Toronto’s pitching management.
Toronto ranks third in the American League East with 87 wins and 69 losses this season. The possibility of winning the district championship has already disappeared, but it is increasing its chances of advancing to the postseason by keeping the second place in the American League wild card. Toronto is likely to win an autumn baseball ticket as all three teams in the West that compete with Toronto, Texas (87-68), Houston (85-71), and Seattle (84-71) still have a bite schedule.
Toronto, which will take a day off on the 26th, has three games left against the Yankees and three against Tampa Bay. If there is no change in the starting rotation, Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, and Chris Bassett will take the mound in the three home games against the Yankees from the 27th to the 29th, and Ryu Hyun-jin, Yusei Kikuchi and Kevin Gausman will take the mound in the three home games against Tampa Bay from the 30th to October 2. However, if Toronto quickly confirms its advance to the postseason, there is no reason to have first starter Gausman take the mound in the final game of the season.
Sportsnet said, “Gausman will pitch in the final game of the season if necessary. Toronto, of course, would be better off with Gausman starting Game 1 of the wild-card series. If Toronto confirms its advance to the postseason before the final game of the season is held, it could be,” he said, stressing that it is important for Toronto to quickly confirm its advance to the postseason.
If Toronto ranks second in the wild card, the first in the wild card will play a wild card series (best of three) against Tampa Bay. For Toronto, there is no need to show key pitchers in advance to Tampa Bay, which can meet in the wild card series.
SportsNet said, “According to the current rotation, Ryu Hyun-jin and Kikuchi will start against Tampa Bay. The two pitchers are unlikely to start in the wild-card series, so they don’t have to worry about being exposed to Tampa Bay. If possible, Toronto will set up a bullpen day by calling up Bowden Francis in Triple-A in the final game of the season, he predicted.
Ryu Hyun-jin, who returned after about 13 months from Tommy John surgery (elbow ligament joint surgery) in June last year, has three wins, three losses and a 3.31 ERA in 10 games (49 innings) this season. Considering that he has returned from major surgery, he has been in compliance, but the recent trend against Tampa Bay has not been good. In Game 2 of the 2020 wild card series, he lost to Tampa Bay in one ⅔ inning, eight hits (two homers) with one walk, three strikeouts and seven runs (three earned) and was also sluggish in the game on the 24th with seven hits (three homers) in four ⅓ innings, three walks and two strikeouts and five runs.
Toronto is expected to form a wild-card series starting rotation with Gausman-Berrios-Bassett if it confirms its postseason berth before the final game of the season. If the postseason advance is not confirmed by the final game of the season, the order will be adjusted to Berrios, Bathit and Gausman, but the pitchers who take the mound are likely not to change. Ryu Hyun-jin is not expected to have a chance to take the mound in the wild card series regardless of the result of taking the mound against Tampa Bay on the 30th.