The Blue Jays are turning to 22-year-old Trey Yesavage, whose MLB playoff start count is already almost equal to his MLB regular season start count. Yesavage made his first career playoff start in the ALDS against the Yankees, striking out 11 hitters, walking only one, and not allowing a single hit over 5 1/3 innings. That performance put him on the map for those who didn’t know his name already, as he quieted a team that led the league in home runs and runs per game during the regular season. Had the score not been as one-sided as it was, Yesavage may have pitched deeper into the game.

While that game will be a tough act to follow, the Mariners posted the sixth-highest number of strikeouts in the majors during the regular season. It will be the first time Seattle will be exposed to his splitter, something that gave the Yankees a ton of trouble, with eight of those aforementioned eleven strikeouts being completed by that pitch.

Yesavage will be tasked with facing Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, an American League MVP candidate, who homered 60 times in the regular season and has hit two more in the postseason, with one of those coming last night off of Kevin Gausman. Jorge Polanco has also been hitting well of late; after hitting a walk-off single against the Tigers to send Seattle to the ALCS, Polanco recorded a pair of RBI singles last night to aid their victory.

Still making some tough decisions with their pitching staff following the 15-inning fiasco against the Tigers over the weekend, the Mariners have opted to go with Logan Gilbert to oppose Yesavage this afternoon. Gilbert made 25 starts during the regular season, owning a 3.44 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 11.9 K/9, and a 2.1 BB/9 over 131 innings. A right elbow flexor strain earlier in the season kept Gilbert from making 30 starts this season, a feat he accomplished during his previous three campaigns.

The right-hander made two appearances in the ALDS against Detroit, one of which was a start, and the other was a two-inning outing out of the bullpen in Game 5. In his one start, Gilbert held the Tigers to one run and four hits over six innings with seven strikeouts and no walks. He danced in and out of trouble during his relief appearance, allowing three hits and a walk during his two frames, but none of those baserunners wound up scoring.

Gilbert has a healthy sample size against Blue Jays hitters in his career. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (6-for-15, two doubles, two homers), George Springer (4-for-15, one double, one triple, one home run), Alejandro Kirk (4-for-12, two doubles), and Isiah Kiner-Falefa (5-for-15, one double) have had the most success against Gilbert as well as the highest amount of at-bats, with Andrés Giménez and Anthony Santander both posting three hits in nine at-bats.

Toronto’s batting order is largely similar to last night’s version, except for Anthony Santander and Ernie Clement switching spots. Nathan Lukes returns to the starting lineup after leaving last night’s game with a right knee contusion, and he’ll hit in between Springer and Guerrero, where he usually does against right-handed pitchers. The lineup will need to carry more weight today than they did last night; the Blue Jays recorded only two hits last night, which both came within the first two innings.

Location: Rogers Centre – Toronto, ON

First Pitch: 5:03 PM EST

Watch/Listen: FOX, FS1, Sportsnet / ESPN Radio, Sportsnet 590 The Fan

Toronto Blue Jays – Trey Yesavage: 1-0 record, 0.00 ERA, 5 1/3 IP, 11 SO, 1 BB

Seattle Mariners – Logan Gilbert: 1-0 record, 1.13 ERA, 8 IP, 9 SO, 1 BB