Toronto Blue Jays

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RT @captainlatte: The @CespedesBBQ boys invited a bunch of folks to their podcast. Old Reliable @AndrewStoeten speed spoke about the #BlueJays You can fast forward to the endish if you don't care about teams that don't have A. Kirk. https://t.co/HTwmrKKqN6

Matt Shoemaker starts in the Jays first post-season matchup, Ryu set for Game 2 https://t.co/R5KKRzupTR

Our rotation is set for the AL Wild Card Series! #WeAreBlueJays

"I would say it's zero per cent intimidating." Bo Bichette explains what the @BlueJays will need to do to beat the Rays and why he isn't worried about going up against a more experienced team. https://t.co/hrMA5AuxgR

Blue Jays announce their playoff rotation, and I’m confused, via @Baseball4Brains https://t.co/EbvSVzvNOP

Jays' Bo Bichette: Facing top-seeded Rays is 'zero percent intimidating.' 👀 https://t.co/nXBSzysAXr

💥 BY POPULAR DEMAND 💥 🎥 Here’s Vladdy Cam!

Looking forward to bringing you #Rays #BlueJays #MLBPostseason 📺 on @Sportsnet 👍

Jays starting pitchers for first round of playoffs https://t.co/w0HRfZsr0P

RT @TAMacKenzie: Mark Shapiro right now! #BlueJays https://t.co/FX6hwRhGIv https://t.co/WlmvmsLGt9

RT @Sportsnet: "In a three-game series, the goal is to win two of them. So to put our ace in the middle make sense to us." Charlie Montoyo explains his decision to name Matt Shoemaker the @BlueJays starter in Game 1 against the Rays. Details: https://t.co/3uhzfbgXk8 https://t.co/ti94scBvS4

In this most improbable of seasons, the @BlueJays turned a shotgun marriage with Sahlen Field into a 32-28 record that exceeded Vegas’ expectations by five games. And that shouldn't be overlooked, writes @SNJeffBlair. https://t.co/9dCLLkXZZW

#BlueJays Charlie Montoyo: “In a three-game series, the goal is to win two of them. Putting our ace in the middle makes sense to us for several reasons. Plus, our bullpen is fully rested."

Maximizes the usage the Jays can get from LH relievers, who are less needed in Ryu starts. Also, Shoe throws a lot of splitters, which Rays hitters haven't handled well this year, especially some key LHBs. And last game threw harder than Walker does; Rays struggle with top velo.

"In a three-game series, the goal is to win two of them. So to put our ace in the middle make sense to us." Charlie Montoyo explains his decision to name Matt Shoemaker the @BlueJays starter in Game 1 against the Rays. Details: https://t.co/3uhzfbgXk8

Shoemaker gets Game One start for Blue Jays with Riu and Walker to follow. If Jays win tomorrow I would throw Walker in the second game. I want Riu in a game that you HAVE to win! Just sayin...

Starting Hyun Jin Ryu in Game 2 is surprising, but it is what it is. Keeping Taijuan Walker in Game 3 in this setup when he's been one of the club's better pitchers since the trade is more difficult to wrap my head around. #BlueJays

Professional opinion:

Kevin Cash uses a lot of platoons. #BlueJays must like how their bullpen matches up vs. that lineup and forces Cash to pick specific matchups. Toronto hasn't done anything conventional all year, guess it's not starting now.

Shoemaker, Ryu starting first two games for Jays https://t.co/tnpCCkdd4C

Well the wind was blowing in this direction for the last couple days or so, but I'm still shocked. #BlueJays are going with Matt Shoemaker in Game 1. Hyun-Jin Ryu in Game 2 and Taijuan Walker in Game 3.

RT @kaitlyncmcgrath: #BlueJays playoff rotation: Game 1: Matt Shoemaker Game 2: Hyun Jin Ryu Game 3: Taijuan Walker

Montoyo says the #BlueJays are focused on winning two games and the order doesn't matter. One could argue there are 80 million reasons to start Ryu in Game 1. One could also argue there are 2.69 reasons.

So #Bluejays pull the shocker, going Shoemaker-Ryu-Walker for their rotation. Ryu gets an extra day of rest. That said, it's a three-game series. He's only pitching once anyway. Montoyo says they're being creative. The danger is they're overthinking it. We'll see.