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With the season on the line, the Toronto Blue Jays, who trail 3-0 in the ALCS, have to face Indians’ right-hander Corey Kluber this afternoon, after he threw 6 1⁄3 scoreless in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series last week in Cleveland.
Blue Jays’ skipper John Gibbons talked about the challenges Kluber presents after the Jays dropped a 4-2 decision last night in the Rogers Centre.
“He's good,” Gibbons said. “He won the Cy Young a couple years ago. He was really good the other night. He's one of the top pitchers in baseball for a good reason.
“We got a good one going ourselves,” he added. “We need a good outing, keep the low score, anyway. I still believe our offense is due to erupt. It hasn't happened yet. But I've seen it too many times. Hopefully tomorrow is that day, we'll see.”
Aaron Sanchez starts for Toronto, making his second appearance of the postseason after giving up three hits, four walks and six earned runs in 5 2⁄3 innings against the Texas Rangers in the ALDS.
Sanchez said there were things he could take from that less-than-stellar outing.
“Hopefully just keep my emotions in check,” he told reporters in his pre-start press conference on Monday.
“I've been there before last year but it was out of the pen. The roles were a little bit different.
“But just keeping the excitement under control. That's the biggest thing I've found.
“Maybe execute more pitches, just making sure I stay in the moment and keeping my feet under me.”
Will the Jays be able to avoid elimination. Will the Indians lock down a spot in the World Series before the NLCS even gets to Game 3?
Here are the lineups for Game 4 of the ALCS: