Blue Jays at Royals, 4:30PM PT, TV: Fox
After two five-game division series, neither team has its best pitcher available for Game One. Tonight the Jays send Marco Estrada to the hill. He started Game Three of their half of the ALDS when the Jays were down 0-2 and had to win; he went 6 1/3 innings and allowed the Rangers only one run. He’ll face old friend Edinson Volquez, who went 5 2/3 innings and gave up three runs to the Astros in Game Three of the other half of the ALDS, losing to Dallas Kuechel.
For added drama, two and a half-months ago the Royals and Blue Jays played a game that featured three hit-by-pitches, three ejections, several other up-and-in fastballs and one benches-clearing incident. Whether there are any hard feelings I leave to your imagination.
Prospective rotations: The Blue Jays will start David Price, Marcus Stroman and R.A. Dickey in Games 2-4, respectively. Kansas City will counter with Yordano Ventura in Game 2 and Johnny Cueto in Game 3.