ALDS 2016: 5 reasons Blue Jays will win

Oct 4, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (10) is mobbed by teammates after he hit a walk off home run to beat the Baltimore Orioles in the American League wild card playoff baseball game at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

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Here are five reasons the Toronto Blue Jays can beat the Texas Rangers in the ALDS.

On the heels of Edwin Encarnacion’s epic three-run blast in the bottom of the 11th inning, the Toronto Blue Jays are through the Wild Card round and onto the ALDS. There, they will square off against the Texas Rangers. These two teams have plenty of history, stemming from Jose Bautista’s home run and bat flip in last year’s ALDS and the subsequent retaliation and punch from Rougned Odor this spring.

The Blue Jays will travel to Arlington for the first game of the series on Thursday night. Toronto won the season series by one game, 4-3, and a margin of 36-21. Here are five reasons the Blue Jays will continue their winning ways over the Rangers and make their way to the ALCS.

5. John Gibbons gets it right

Who would have predicted that John Gibbons would out-manage Buck Showalter in the Wild Card Game? Not many people, that’s for sure. During his time in Toronto, Gibbons has been viewed as a mediocre strategist at best, but he pressed all the right buttons in getting his team past the Orioles.

What stood out the most during the 11-inning win was Gibbons’ willingness to trust his players while not asking too much of them. The manager could have easily hooked Marcus Stroman after he allowed a two-run homer to Mark Trumbo. Showalter showed a very quick hook with his starter, Chris Tillman, and it pushed his bullpen up two innings.

In the later innings, Gibbons did not push Jason Grilli or Joe Biagini to pitch more than one inning. Both relievers endured difficult final weeks of the season. In a game that looked like it would be decided in extra innings, Gibbons resisted the temptation to push Grilli and Biagini to go more than one inning. He knew he had the ultimate answer in Francisco Liriano, a lefty who had recorded a 10-strikeout game against the Orioles just a week ago.

The importance of building that trust equity with his players and bullpen cannot be underestimated. Buck Showalter tried to play it cute and save Zach Britton for a save situation, while Gibbons used his best pitchers in the right situations. Because of John Gibbons, the Blue Jays live to play another day.

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