The Toronto Blue Jays have chosen right-hander Marco Estrada as their Game 1 starter when they open the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Indians on Friday.
Estrada pitched superbly in his one outing in the AL Division Series against the Texas Rangers. He gave up one run and four hits in 8 1/3 innings as the Blue Jays won the opener of that series last Thursday.
Estrada is 3-1 with a 2.67 ERA in eight career postseason appearances, including four starts.
“You look back the last couple of years at how good Marco has been in big games for us,” Toronto manager John Gibbons said on Tuesday. “He’s one guy, too, that probably needs more than anybody to keep on as close to normal (rest) as possible, not too much time off.”
Gibbons indicated that right-hander Aaron Sanchez will likely start just once in the series as the club continues to monitor the 24-year-old’s innings count.