Toronto (0-1) at Kansas City (1-0)
When: Saturday, October 17th, 2015
Where: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Time: 4:05 ET
TV: FOX Sports 1 Radio: XM 176, 177, 80
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Edinson Volquez and the Kansas City bullpen cooled off the hot hitting Toronto Blue Jays to take Game 1 of the American League Championship Series last night 5-0. Volquez was brilliant for 6 innings surrendering only two singles and throwing 111 pitches. Kelvin Herrera, Ryan Madson, and Luke Hochevar each pitched scoreless innings to preserve the shutout. The Blue Jays scored 127 more runs than the next closest team in the regular season and were only shutout five times. Seven of the nine Royals hitters had at least one hit with Alicdes Escobar leading the way with two (both doubles) including scoring twice. Salvador Perez hit his third homerun of the postseason. Troy Tulowitzki went 0-for-4 and is now 2-for-25 in the postseason. Blue Jays DH Edwin Encarnacion sprained a ligament in his left middle finger in Game 1 and is questionable for Game 2.
The Blue Jays will turn to David Price tonight who has lost all six postseason games he has started. Price picked up a victory in relief in Game 4 of the AL Division Series against Texas despite surrendering 3 runs and 6 hits over 3 innings. He served up two homers in his one start versus the Rangers after allowing just four in 11 regular-season starts with the Blue Jays this season. Price is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 6 career appearances (five starts) against Kansas City, including a 1-0 mark and 2.93 ERA in two 2015 starts. Yordano Ventura will make his third postseason start for Kansas City and the seventh of his career. Ventura is 1-0 with a 3.75 ERA in two career starts against Toronto, with the win coming this season despite allowing 5 runs and 6 hits in 7 innings of work. He pitched 7 innings against Houston in the ALDS surrendering six runs.
Price right now has no confidence in himself and neither do I. I think the Blue Jays bounce back against Ventura now that they have a game under their belt. Most of these playoff games go under the total, but there’s usually one or two slugfests. I believe tonight to be one of them. Take the over.
Pick: Over 7.5 +100
