Five questions about the series
The Blue Jays are about to host their first post-season series at Rogers Centre since 2016. Here are some of the big questions leading into their best-of-three wild card matchup against Seattle:
Will Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Santiago Espinal be on the roster?
Their statuses were still up in the air Thursday. Gurriel hasn't played since Sept. 7 because of a strained hamstring while Espinal has been out since Sept. 21 with a strained oblique. Both players took live batting practice Wednesday. Ideally, the Jays would have at least one of the two available against left-hander Robbie Ray, who is tentatively scheduled to pitch on Saturday.
Who will start for the Blue Jays in Game 2?
The answer likely depends on who wins Game 1. If the Jays win the opener, expect them to go with Ross Stripling, which would save Kevin Gausman for Game 3, or more preferably put him in position to make two starts in the AL division series.
That might seem strange, but the tactic is being employed elsewhere as teams adjust to a best-of-three format. Early speculation out of New York was that the Mets intend to treat Jacob DeGrom the same way.
When are the rosters due and which players are on the bubble?
The Jays have until10 a.m. Friday to submit their roster. Teams are allowed to carry 13 pitchers, but they can choose to go with fewer. GM Ross Atkins made it seem like the Jays’ final decision is whether to carry Gabriel Moreno as a third catcher while going with 12 pitchers. Moreno likely wouldn't get into any games, but he would be a useful insurance policy for whenever Danny Jansen and Alejandro Kirk are in the lineup at DH and catcher.
What are the Mariners’ biggest strengths and weaknesses?
The Mariners got this far because of their pitching. Seattle’s starting rotation was 11th in the majors with a 3.75 ERA and its bullpen was sixth at 3.33. This is a team that needs to pitch well to win because it doesn’t do much damage with the bats.
Who should Jays fans be worried about the most?
Julio Rodriguez. The 21-year-old is a lock to be named the AL rookie of the year after he hit .284 with 28 homers and an .853 on-base-plusslugging percentage. The young phenom homered on the final day of the regular season, and he enters this series seemingly over a lower back strain that sidelined him early this year. The Mariners are expecting good performances from their pitchers. If they get a big series from one of their young position players, they could steal the series.