The Toronto Blue Jays need to have a short memory and a long memory when they take the field at the Rogers Centre Wednesday afternoon for Game 5 in the American League Championship Series.
They need to forget the beating they took in Game 4, as the Kansas City Royals bludgeoned them on their home field by a 14-2 margin after the Royals jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back.
However, the Blue Jays also need a long memory to remember what happened in 1985. That was the first year the ALCS was a best-of-seven series, and the Blue Jays were in it and jumped to a 3-1 lead over the Royals. Kansas City came all the way back to win that series and then took the only World Series in their history by beating the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.
It has obviously been done before, and the Blue Jays would get a bit of franchise revenge if they could turn the tables.
But with the history lesson over, the Blue Jays have a lot of work to do at 4 p.m. (ET) if they want to survive. The Royals have been the better team through the first four games of the series, and the Blue Jays are going to have to be much better if they are going to send the series back to Kansas City for Game 6 Friday night.
Toronto outfielder Jose Bautista knows where his team stands, and he believes his team has an opportunity to take a big step in Game 5.
"Being backed against the wall is nothing but an opportunity to start something great..." ~anonymous~ #LetsGo #ComeTogether
— Jose Bautista (@JoeyBats19) October 21, 2015
If that is going to happen, the Blue Jays are going to have to do a much better job of pitching. The Blue Jays will be sending out ace Marco Estrada to the mound, and he has a 1-1 record in the postseason with a 2.31 ERA.
Edinson Volquez will take the mound for the Royals in an attempt to close out the series. Volquez also has a 1-1 record and 3.09 ERA in the playoffs.
While the task looks daunting from the outside, Toronto catcher Russell Martin told columnist Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star that the big challenge excites him:
“I love this team. I love our fight. We’ve shown our ability to come back before. Obviously, it’s a different team. I definitely think Kansas City is better than Texas, so it’s going to be a tougher battle. It’s a challenge. I’m up to the challenge.”
The oddsmakers expect the Blue Jays to extend the series. They are minus-144 favorites to win the game, according to Odds Shark. Those who think the Royals will end the series in Game 5 can support the plus-139 underdogs.
Royals slugger Eric Hosmer explained how his team has no problems going on the road and adapting to a different style of baseball than the speed game the Royals like to play at home, per the Associated Press (via the New York Daily News):
''Our park, our style of play is a little different. We like to use our legs and be athletic, but when we come to some of these parks where the fences aren't as deep we've got some guys that can put the ball in the seats.''
The Royals are on a mission this year. After getting to the seventh game of the World Series last year and having a chance to tie the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning of the seventh game, they are not going to be stopped in their goal of getting back to baseball's main event.
Estrada is a tough pitcher, but the Royals will find a way to scratch out a few runs against him, and they will make it hold up.
The Royals will win the series in five games and send Blue Jays fans home disappointed.
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