Expect some fireworks when Royals, Jays collide in ALCS
The Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays promise plenty of fireworks in their A.L. Championship Series, and not just because one team features power arms and the other power bats.
The Royals and Blue Jays already have played a contentious set of games this season, including a matchup in Toronto marked by two bench-clearing incidents. And while both sides said during Thursday’s workouts that previous rancor has been forgotten, the emotionally charged atmosphere of playoff baseball means there could be some short fuses in the opener Friday night.
“It’s over with. We’ve got to move forward,” insisted the Royals’ Edinson Volquez, who will start Game 1 and was arguably the biggest instigator when the teams met in August.
It was Volquez whose inside pitching drew the ire of the Blue Jays, eventually leading to the first of those bench-clearing moments. And after the game, he called Blue Jays star Josh Donaldson “a little baby” for complaining about his inside pitching.
Asked whether he intends to pitch inside again Friday night, Volquez replied: “Of course.”
Royals manager Ned Yost was one word more succinct: “Absolutely.”
Even if it might mean more bad blood.
“I’m not a mind reader. I’m not a fortune teller. I don’t know if it’s going to be an issue,” Yost said. “But we’ll pitch inside aggressively. That’s a power-laden club over there. We’re going to formulate a really good game plan and try to go out and execute.”
The Blue Jays, who start Marco Estrada in the opener, won three straight elimination games against Texas to reach their first ALCS since 1993. The last of those games Wednesday featured a wild seventh inning capped by Jose Bautista’s long three-run homer.
These franchises met once before in the ALCS, with the Royals rallying from a 3-1 deficit in 1985. The last two wins came in Toronto, and the Royals then went on to beat the St. Louis Cardinals for their only World Series triumph.
Much like the ’85 Royals, this team is built on pitching and defense — hard-throwing starters and relievers, and enough speed to track down just about anything that stays in their park.
That was a big reason why they were able to down the Astros in their divisional series.
“A big part of their success is they flag the ball down, because the outfield is so big here,” said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. “We’re built a little bit differently. I think a lot of it has to do with where we play.”
The Blue Jays, who play in hitter-friendly Rogers Centre, hit a major league leading 232 homers in the regular season. than said. “Toronto “They’ve Houston,”is gota better more Volquez teamveteran guys and more power hitters. We’re going to play our game. We’re going to stay with the plan and do it. Like I said, do our best to win the game.” Major League Baseball will review security at Rogers Centre in an effort to prevent a repeat of the fan disturbance during Game 5 of the Division Series. Spectators littered the field with debris during an 18-minute delay.
Cubs: Jon Lester will be Chicago’s starting pitcher for Game 1 of the N.L. Championship Series on Saturday, and Javier Baez will get the start at shortstop after Addison Russell was shelved by a left hamstring injury. Russell got hurt while legging out a triple in Game 3 of the Division Series against St. Louis. Baez hit a three-run homer in Chicago’s series-ending 6-4 victory in Game 4. Jake Arrieta will start on the mound in Game 2 on Sunday.
Cardinals: Catcher Yadier Molina underwent surgery for a torn ligament in his left thumb. He is expected to be ready for spring training next year.