ALCS 2016: 5 reasons Blue Jays will win

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Here are five reasons the Toronto Blue Jays will win the ALCS and advance to their first World Series since 1993.

The knockdown, drag-out battle between the Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers that was expected in the ALDS never materialized. Instead, the Jays dominated the Rangers in all facets of the game, trailing for a grand total of one inning in three games. The Blue Jays battered the Rangers, leaving them shellshocked after the first two games of the series. The clinching game took a little more work, but the Blue Jays emerged victorious while the Rangers crumbled once again.

Moving onto the ALCS, the Blue Jays find themselves face to face with the Cleveland Indians, who also swept their first-round series. The Indians won the season series by one game, but the Blue Jays won the scoreboard 38-24. Cleveland was able to pull out a few close victories, while Toronto won by wide margins.

The ALCS should be much closer than both division series. Here are the five biggest reasons the Blue Jays will be the American League team moving onto the Fall Classic.

October 6, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Ezequiel Carrera (3) hits a single in the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers during game one of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball game at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Ezequiel Carrera stays hot

Both teams in the ALCS have players who were relatively unknown entering the season playing big roles in October. For Toronto, that player is Ezequiel Carrera, an outfielder who had a grand total of 267 big-league games spread across five seasons. Injuries to Jose Bautista allowed Carrera to receive the most playing time of his career, and he did not disappoint.

With most of the lineup struggling in September, Carrera provided a major spark for the Jays. In 20 games in September, he batted .359 with two home runs. The speedy left fielder can lead off when called upon, but also serves the Blue Jays well from the bottom of the order. Regardless of batting order slot, Carrera has found a way to reach base ahead of the big boppers.

Against the Rangers, Carrera continued his hot hitting, going 4-for-12 with a home run and a stolen base. He also picked up two hits in the Wild Card Game. In this star-studded lineup, Carrera has managed to stand out as a key performer due to his ability make contact and use his speed. His approach at the plate plays well in the playoffs, as he is more than happy to pull a ground ball through the hole. Any power is an added bonus.

Playoff series like this one are often decided by which team’s seven-through-nine hitters show up to play. Ezequiel Carrera can impact a game in several different ways. While he would have easily been overlooked at the start of the year, he is very much a key to victory for the Blue Jays in the ALCS.

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