Gausman to take the mound as Blue Jays kick off wild-card series with Twins
Posted October 2, 2023 9:21 pm.
Last Updated October 3, 2023 6:04 am.
The Toronto Blue Jays confirmed that ace Kevin Gausman will start Game 1 of the American League wild-card series against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday.
It will mark a regular turn of the starting rotation for Gausman and the Blue Jays, who later confirmed that José Berríos would get the ball in Game 2. Chris Bassitt would likely start Game 3 for the Blue Jays if needed.
Time to Gaus up ⛽️ @KevinGausman is our Game One starter! #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/SmZNlf01OG
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) October 2, 2023
Gausman, 32, was again terrific for the Blue Jays this season, leading all qualified club starters in ERA (3.16), strikeouts (237), K/9 (11.5), and H/9 (7.9). He also led Blue Jays pitchers in fWAR (Wins Above Replacement) at 3.4.
He finished with 31 regular-season starts and a 12-9 record across 185 innings pitched. Gausman pitched to a 3.27 ERA in 15 road starts, with 106 strikeouts across 85 1/3 innings.
Gausman made two starts against the Twins this season, finishing with a 6.30 ERA across 10 innings pitched, scattering 11 hits, seven earned runs with nine walks and 12 strikeouts.
“It’s been a dream of mine since I got to the big leagues to get the ball for a post-season start,” Gausman said during media day on Monday. “Obviously, Game 1 is the most important one.”
The Twins will counter with Pabló Lopez (11-8, 3.66) for Tuesday’s opener of the best-of-three matchup at Target Field.
The Blue Jays later announced that Berríos would start Game 2 against his former team in Minnesota. The 29-year-old rebounded into form this season after finishing with an uncharacteristic 5.23 ERA across 32 starts in last year’s campaign.
LA MAKINA ????@JOLaMaKina gets the ball in Game Two! #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/aryQqMNTWt
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) October 3, 2023
Berríos once again made 32 starts, this time finishing with an 11-12 record, 3.65 ERA and 184 strikeouts across 189 2/3 innings with an improved 8.7 K/9 and 8.2 H/9 compared to his prior statistical campaign. He pitched to a 3.97 ERA in 17 starts away from the Rogers Centre.
The right-hander made one start against the Twins this regular season and picked up the win after going 5 2/3 innings with no earned runs, five walks and five strikeouts.
Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday. Sonny Gray is expected to counter for the Twins. Game 3, if necessary, will be played Thursday, also in Minnesota.
The Twins will enter the series on an 18-game playoff losing streak. Toronto, meanwhile, has lost its last five post-season games – wild-card round sweeps in 2020 and ’22 – and a Game 5 loss in the 2016 AL Championship Series.
The series winner will play the Houston Astros in the AL Division Series starting Saturday.
