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MLB playoffs 2016: 3 reasons the Blue Jays make it

By Joshua Sadlock

Aug 31, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista (19) high fives teammates after hitting a home run in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 31, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista (19) high fives teammates after hitting a home run in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 27, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Roberto Osuna (54) celebrates after defeating the Minnesota Twins at Rogers Centre. The Toronto Blue Jays won 8-7. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 27, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Roberto Osuna (54) celebrates after defeating the Minnesota Twins at Rogers Centre. The Toronto Blue Jays won 8-7. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

The Orioles cannot win in Toronto

The most important series before the end of the year will kick off next week when the Baltimore Orioles travel to the Rogers Centre for a three-game series. On the year, the Orioles are only 2-5 in Toronto. The Blue Jays lead the season series 9-7 and have outscored the Orioles by a 17-run margin.

At home, the Blue Jays have batted .263/.342/.452 — much better than their road numbers. The Rogers Centre has been an especially terrifying place for the Orioles pitching staff, as they have a 6.68 ERA in the dome. The Blue Jays seem to feed off the energy of the 45,000 Canadians who discovered last summer that they may have a slight interest in baseball so long as the team is playing well.

The Orioles have not set their rotation heading into the key series against the Blue Jays, and an injury to Kevin Gausman throws a wrench into their plans. The team’s best pitcher in the second half is dealing with a sore intercostal muscle, but should be expected to start in Toronto. Chris Tillman and Ubaldo Jimenez will likely draw the other starts. All three have had their struggles against Toronto in the past, especially Tillman, who is 5-10 with a 5.61 ERA against the Blue Jays in his career.

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The Blue Jays have to take care of business and win their series against the Yankees. If they do that, they will enter the series against the Orioles with a firm grip on the wild card. Baltimore’s rotation has had problems all year, and the Blue Jays, with their patient approach at the plate, are an awful matchup for them.

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