MLB - NEWS & NOTES

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TORONTO (AP) ? Whenever his Toronto Blue Jays face the Baltimore Orioles, manager John Gibbons has a pretty good idea what kind of game it's going to be.

"They're normally slugfests," Gibbons said Monday as the Blue Jays prepared to host Baltimore in the American League wild-card game.

The Orioles led the major leagues with 253 home runs this season, hitting 28 in their 19 games against Toronto. The Blue Jays were fourth in baseball with 221 homers and had 29 against Baltimore.

"We're really very similar teams if you break it down," Gibbons said. "We know everything about them, they know everything about us. When you're playing a team from your division, there's really no secrets."

Still, with a berth in the best-of-five Division Series against Texas on the line, long balls might be a little harder to come by in Tuesday night's winner-take-all affair between these AL East foes.

The challenge of controlling two powerful lineups will fall on the starting pitchers. Marcus Stroman (9-10, 4.37 ERA) gets the nod for Toronto, with fellow right-hander Chris Tillman (16-6, 3.77) going for the Orioles.

"I think Stro is the perfect guy," Gibbons said. "Big game, we've seen him do it before. He did that a couple of times for us last year. You know he's going to come out throwing strikes. We're glad he's available."

Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said choosing Tillman was a "good, tough" decision.

"We had probably three options, and Chris is one of those good options," Showalter said.

The Orioles went 4-0 in Tillman's four starts against the Blue Jays this season. Last year, he was 0-4 in six starts against Toronto, posting an ugly 11.32 ERA.

"I don't think I've gone out of my way to do anything different with these guys," Tillman said. "It's just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. Last year didn't go so well, this year has been a little better."

 

I just want to shake my head at all the dumb Orioles fans that think they will win with a walk off home run today... on the road.

 

Thats why i like the Jays. I think they can bash and go from station to station. Orioles will live and die on the long ball... more often than not they'll die.

I like the WC concept, but not the 1 game thing.

 

This is not National News? *SCRATCH* Only some people in Pittsburgh know? Well, here it is.......The Pirates are putting McCutchen out there for a possible trade just to see what kind of offers they get.......They should of put him out there there earlier just to see what the teams fighting for a playoff spot would give up for him. He could definitely help a team win and possibly go farther in the playoffs. He's better than most of the centerfielders on the playoff teams right now. Perhaps the Cards could of got in, who knows? I think he's signed for next year and has options for 2018.......The Pirates won't be able to afford him once he's a FA.......

 

igloo -- once he hits F/A he will be a lot older and not as valuable too. i heard about this 2 weeks ago. wouldn't mind if he was younger but in 2018 - no mas!

 

Did you hear that the Phillies are going to buyout Ryan Howard's contract and pay him $10 MIL. not to play instead of $21 MIL. too play? ...........What a life! *NO*

 

How old is Cespedes or Cargo? Where would the Mets be without Cespedes this year? Not in the playoffs, thats for sure!

 

Cutch is 29 right now. Cargo and Cespedes were 29 last year when signed except the Rockies wouldn't trade Cargo or were asking too much......Cutch is 1 year younger......

 

What did McCutchen hit this year?

 

what's ur point? in 2018, he's 31 and if im a gm after this season - he's on notice of a decline and not worthy of a 5-6 $150 mil deal. sorry.

and ces only signed a 1 yr deal too. not tied at the hip is NY.

 

Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes that "there is a growing sense among industry insiders" that the Pirates will trade Andrew McCutchen before he reaches free agency.

McCutchen is under contract for $14 million next season and the club has a $14.75 million option on him for 2018. Biertempfel adds that general manager Neal Huntington "likely will quietly shop" McCutchen during the offseason, "if only to gauge the level of interest." McCutchen will turn 30 later this month, has declined rapidly defensively and is sporting a career-worst .255/.336/.430 batting line this season, so it remains to be seen whether the Pirates would be able to get an enticing enough package for the former MVP. However, there would surely be some interested parties should the club decide to field offers. Oct 2
(ROTO)

 

Play Ball!

 

It will be interesting to see if McCutchen bounces back next year. He's one of the good guys and I hate to see him not to play at a high level while he is still young.

 

Oh Jays fans. Not cool. Do not throw something on the field when someone is making a catch in front of you.

 

Jays fan*

 

GOOD NIGHT BALTIMORE!!!!

 

So Buck Showalter just confirmed Zach Britton was okay and was saving him for a save opportunity.