ALDS 2016: 5 reasons Blue Jays will win

4. Strong defense up the middle

During their win against the Orioles, it was crystal clear that the Blue Jays had the three best defenders up the middle — Russell Martin at catcher, Troy Tulowitzki at shortstop, and Kevin Pillar in center field. Tulowitzki made a diving stop to take a hit away while also making several nifty plays on the run. Pillar made a key sliding grab to rob Manny Machado of an RBI. Behind the dish, Martin showcased why he is considered one of the best pitch framers in all of baseball.

In the postseason, every hit and run is at a premium, and the Blue Jays are elite defensively up the middle. Pillar seems to make a highlight-reel play night in and night out. Tulo is slick as ever at short, and there is obviously a reason that Martin has been a part of the playoffs for six straight years. It is not insignificant to note that Liriano has a 2.94 ERA in the 42 starts that Martin has caught, but a 4.05 ERA overall.

Without the defensive contributions of these three players (and keep in mind that Josh Donaldson and Devon Travis are also no slouches with the leather), who knows if the Blue Jays would have been able to hold the Orioles to just four hits on the night. The Rangers are a team that will put the ball in play and avoid striking out. Luckily for the Blue Jays, they are well-stocked with players who can make extraordinary plays look routine.