It was predicted that Toronto Blue Jays Ryu Hyun-jin (36) would not pitch in the Wild Card Series.
On the 26th (Korean time), Canadian media outlet Sportsnet introduced strategic aspects to watch in the final week as Toronto attempts to advance to the postseason. Sportsnet, which paid attention to Brandon Belt’s return and Cam Eden’s use as a pinch runner, finally analyzed Toronto’s pitching management.
Toronto is in 3rd place in the American League East Division with 87 wins and 69 losses this season. Although the possibility of winning the district championship has already disappeared, they are maintaining second place in the American League wild card, increasing their chances of advancing to the postseason. There is a high possibility that Toronto will get a ticket to the fall baseball season as all three teams competing with Toronto in the West Division, Texas (87-68), Houston (85-71), and Seattle (84-71), have matches remaining. It’s a situation. 안전놀이터
Toronto, which is taking a day off on the 26th, has three games remaining against the Yankees and three games against Tampa Bay. If there is no change in the starting rotation, Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, and Chris Bassett will appear on the mound in the three-game home game against the Yankees from the 27th to the 29th, and in the three-game home game against Tampa Bay from the 30th to October 2, Hyunjin Ryu, Yusei Kikuchi, and Kevin Gausman will take the mound. However, if Toronto quickly confirms advancement to the postseason, there is no reason to have first starter Gausman pitch in the final game of the season.
Sportsnet said, “If necessary, Gausman will pitch in the final game of the season. Of course, it would be better for Toronto to have Gausman as the starting pitcher in Game 1 of the wild card series. “It is possible if Toronto confirms advancement to the postseason before the final game of the season is held,” he said, emphasizing that it is important for Toronto to quickly confirm advancement to the postseason.
If Toronto takes second place in the wild card, it will play a wild card series (best of three) with Tampa Bay, where the first place in the wild card is confirmed. From Toronto’s perspective, there is no need to show key pitchers in advance to Tampa Bay, who will meet in the wild card series.
Sportsnet said, “If the current rotation continues, Ryu Hyun-jin and Kikuchi will start against Tampa Bay. These two pitchers are not likely to start in the Wild Card Series, so there is no need to worry about being exposed to Tampa Bay. “If possible, Toronto will call up Bowden Francis from Triple A in the final game of the season for a bullpen day,” he predicted.
Ryu Hyun-jin, who underwent Tommy John surgery (elbow ligament fusion surgery) in June of last year and returned about 13 months later, is recording 3 wins, 3 losses, and an average ERA of 3.31 in 10 games (49 innings) this season. Considering that he returned from major surgery, his performance was decent, but his recent performance against Tampa Bay is not good. In Game 2 of the 2020 Wild Card Series, he recorded a loss against Tampa Bay with 8 hits (2 home runs), 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, and 7 runs (3 earned runs) in 1⅔ innings. In the game on the 24th, he pitched 4⅓ innings, 7 hits (3 home runs), 3 walks, and 1 walk. He performed poorly, striking out 2 and allowing 5 runs.
If Toronto confirms advancement to the postseason before the final game of the season, it is expected that Gausman, Berrios, and Bassett will form the starting rotation for the wild card series. If advancement to the postseason is not confirmed until the final game of the season, the order will be adjusted to Berrios, Bassett, and Gausman, but it is highly likely that the pitchers appearing will not change. Regardless of the outcome of Ryu Hyun-jin’s appearance against Tampa Bay on the 30th, it is expected that he will not have a chance to appear in the Wild Card Series.
Ryu Hyun-jin’s career postseason records were 9 games (41⅔ innings), 3 wins, 3 losses, and an average ERA of 4.54. He has experienced the postseason in 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019, and 2020, and if he plays baseball this fall, it will be his sixth career postseason appearance.