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Familiar foes bring plenty of drama to AL WC
- Updated: October 4, 2016
TORONTO — It’s kind of like two guys who have lived next door to each other for years and years. They get along, but over time, some tension is inevitable. One thinks the other should mow his lawn a little more often and it wouldn’t hurt to slap a coat of paint on his house. The second resents that his neighbor parks his beat-up truck at the curb and that his dog barks all night.
When the Orioles and Blue Jays meet Tuesday night at Rogers Centre in the American League Wild Card Game (8 p.m. ET/TBS in United States, Sportsnet (English) and RDS (French) in Canada), it will be the 20th time this year the division rivals have met. A long-ago scout named Chaucer said familiarity breeds contempt. That overstates the case here, but you get the idea.
Date Time Matchup TV Oct. 4 8 p.m. ET BAL @ TOR TBS/SNET/RSN Shop for postseason gear: Orioles | Blue Jays • Complete Postseason coverage
If nothing else, it amps up the intensity of a game that by its very nature — one game to determine who advances to the AL Division Series and whose season will have the plug pulled — is already filled to the brim with drama.
“There are really no secrets,” said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons.
“There are no secrets,” said Orioles starter Chris Tillman.
Orioles center fielder Adam Jones said playing in one game with an entire season on the line in 2012 was an “amazing” experience. “They made it like the NCAA Tournament,” he added. “One and done. Win or go home.”
Besides, while it may not have the same profile as Yankees vs. Red Sox, there’s been multiple occasions in recent years when games between the Blue Jays and Orioles have gotten a little chippy.
Marcus Stroman, who will start for Toronto, was fined and suspended six games in September 2014 for throwing behind the head of Baltimore hitter Caleb Joseph. Orioles manager Buck Showalter …
