☆ 2016 ALCS ☆ Toronto Blue Jays vs CLEVELAND INDIANS ☆
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10/18 8:05 PM - NLCS GAME 3 - Too early for a look ahead? (Vegasinsider.com)
953 Chi. Cubs open -115 now consensus -105
954 L.A. Dodgers open -115 now consensus +105 A nearly even game.
Total runs 6½ A National League type low total, the AL is more exciting.
Pitchers: (CHC) Jake Arrieta
(LAD) Rich Hill (L)TV: FS-1, DTV: 219 | CLEAR, WIND OUT TO LEFT 5-10. GAME TEMP 76, RH 33% HEAT INDEX 75
10/18 4:05 PM - The ALCS GAME 4 - SERIES CLINCHING GAME FOR CLEVELAND
955 Cleveland open +112 now concensus +110
956 Toronto open -122 now consensus -120 Toronto a very slight favorite
Total runs 7½ with Kluber pitching
Pitchers: (CLE) Corey Kluber
(TOR) Aar³n Sanchez Overnight Pitching Change: Cleveland - C. Kluber for M. Clevinger | TV: TBS, DTV: 247 | MOSTLY CLOUDY, 40% CHANCE THUNDERSTORMS. WIND OUT TO RIGHT 20-30, GUSTY. GAME TEMP 79, RH 55% HEAT INDEX 81 (ROGERS CENTRE ROOF CLOSES IN WET WEATHER)
NOTES:
Open Line: Consists of the first betting line received from one of our Las Vegas or Online sportsbooks.
VI Consensus: Consists of the current betting line which occurs most frequently among our list of Las Vegas and Online sportsbooks.
All Game Times are Eastern Standard Time.
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Well that sucks.
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The Indians still have the upper hand, but they've also got the unproven one. Still hoping to close out the American League pennant on Canadian soil, they are about to send a rookie with all of 11 Major League innings under his belt to the mound in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series.
Is Ryan Merritt's unexpected emergence as a pivotal figure the opening which the Blue Jays sneak through and turn this best-of-seven set into a legitimate series? We'll find out today at 4 p.m. ET.
"I'll just relax and treat it as any other game," said Merritt, whose only Major League start came in a Sept. 30 win in Kansas City. "I know I can get outs, so I'm just going to pitch to my strengths."
And the Blue Jays hope to play to theirs.
Game 4 was the Jays' reminder to the world that they are still capable of stringing runs together. Josh Donaldson went deep, which was good for the soul. They finally got one of the Indians' three key bullpen arms (Bryan Shaw) to crack in a two-run seventh, which was good for the psyche. If Toronto can jump out to an early lead off the kid and ride another strong start from Marco Estrada, it can potentially avoid the Andrew Miller effect and send this thing back to Cleveland for a Game 6.
"It's an uphill battle," Donaldson said. "We're still down three games to one. It's a must-win each and every game. But the fact of the matter is we've got to go out there and continue to control what we can control."
Estrada has done a terrific job controlling his emotions in past playoff appearances. In the past two postseasons, he has compiled a 2.02 ERA in 35 2/3 innings, and he secured a legacy in Toronto with his 7 2/3 innings of brilliance in last year's Game 5 of the ALCS vs. the Royals.
"In terms of thinking this could be our last game or it's a playoff game or you've got to be perfect, that's not the case," Estrada said. "I haven't thought about it that way. I'm pretty relaxed when I'm out there."
The Indians, who were the only team in the Majors to not lose four straight games this season, still seemed pretty relaxed after their club-record six-game postseason winning streak came to a halt in the potential clincher Tuesday. Any thought of popping bubbly in the vistors' clubhouse was kept on ice at the hands of Aaron Sanchez, and Toronto's bats went from rumor to reality in the Blue Jays' 5-1 victory.
Now we can turn our attention to an Indians team that has hit .164 with a .526 OPS so far this series and done absolutely nothing at the plate in the late innings. All the more reason it is imperative that Merritt be on point early if the Tribe is going to close it out here.
Merritt, just 24 years old, is obviously an interesting option for Game 5, but Cleveland didn't have a lot of options, given the complexity of the team's injury situation. Merritt hasn't pitched in a game since that strong start against the Royals, but the Indians had him pitch in the fall instructional league in Arizona to stay stretched out. They're hoping to catch the Jays off guard with a guy on whom the ol' "book" is not yet out.
"What do I know about him?" Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He's left-handed. That's all I know right now."
For Cleveland, the only bright side to Toronto extending its edge against Shaw on Tuesday is that it gave Terry Francona reason to allow Miller and closer Cody Allen some rare rest, which means they'll be good to go in Game 5.
"I think that helps," Francona said. "We do have those guys available with a day off behind it."
The Indians want to spend that day basking in the glow of a World Series ticket, plain and simple. The Blue Jays want to put the pressure on, reassert themselves on this stage and send it back to Cleveland, where, perhaps, those old, uncomfortable thoughts of postseasons past might creep into the hearts and minds of the Northeast Ohio populace.
"We're still alive, no doubt," Gibbons said. "Even through the struggles of the last few games where they outplayed us and shut us down, I mean, it was the same guys, just weren't getting the results.
... We've got another game. So we'll see what the heck happens."
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10/19 8:05 PM - NLCS GAME 4 - Just checking.
901 Chi. Cubs open -120 now consensus -110 The CUBS are a very slight favorite.
902 L.A. Dodgers open +120 now consensus +100
Total runs 7½ OVER /UNDER
Pitchers: (CHC) John Lackey
(LAD) Julio Urias (L)TV: FS-1, DTV: 219
10/19 4:05 PM - ALCS GAME 5 - Why does it feel like Cleveland is the must win? It's not true.
903 Cleveland open +145 now consensus +160 - The Indians are the modest underdog here.
904 Toronto -160 now consensus -180
Total runs 8 OVER /UNDER
Pitchers: (CLE) Ryan Merritt (L) (TOR) Marco Estrada
TV: TBS, DTV: 247
NOTES:
Open Line: Consists of the first betting line received from one of our Las Vegas or Online sportsbooks.
VI Consensus: Consists of the current betting line which occurs most frequently among our list of Las Vegas and Online sportsbooks.
All Game Times are Eastern Standard Time.
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My buddy was on the pitching staff at McClennan JC with Merritt. He is one of the biggest Indians fans today.
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After yesterday my previously unbeaten, post-season, blue Indians T went in the wash with the contrasting red shorts.
Back to the lucky, grey T with the navy blues...
Go Tribe...
Go Merritt... Give us 7, then one each from Allen and Miller...
"When you have a shared vision it is a lot easier to make unpopular decisions." - Paul DePodesta "When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less." - Paul Brown Complete 2017 Browns Board Mock: http://thebrownsboard.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=46196 -
After yesterday my previously unbeaten, post-season, blue Indians T went in the wash with the contrasting red shorts.
Back to the lucky, grey T with the navy blues...
Go Tribe...
Go Merritt... Give us 7, then one each from Allen and Miller...
After yesterday my previously unbeaten, post-season, blue Indians T went in the wash with the contrasting red shorts.
Back to the lucky, grey T with the navy blues...
Go Tribe...
Go Merritt... Give us 7, then one each from Allen and Miller...
You may want to order that Merritt jersey now before the rush..Great move by Fran. hell i don't even know what Merritt throwing..BUT STRIKES!!! SanTanna BOOOOMM---2-0
Browns & Buffett: Got to go fishin, Down to rock bottom again, with just a few Friends -
The crowd was so happy for the 1st hit to come and then they got doubled up. Watched 0 games this year and I've seen all the playoff games. Did the same with the Cavs so hopefully we get the same result.
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Nerve racking stuff this!
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PHEW
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Miller time!
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Why'd Merrit get taken out?
Why'd Merrit get taken out?
Think Fran wanted kid to only be able to get W only. But i thought he should have stayed facing lefty on lefty. but not a Saunder's was the tought of Fran, imo
Browns & Buffett: Got to go fishin, Down to rock bottom again, with just a few Friends -
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