Blue Jays entrust Game 1 start to Estrada

TORONTO — Marco Estrada has come through time and time again for the Blue Jays in big postseason moments. They’re banking on him doing it at least one more time.

On Tuesday afternoon, Toronto officially named Estrada its starter for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against the Indians. He’ll get the call Friday in Cleveland (8 p.m. ET on TBS and, in Canada, Sportsnet and RDS).

Game Date Time Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 14 8 p.m. TOR @ CLE TBS/SNET/RDS Gm 2 Oct. 15 TBD TOR @ CLE TBS/SNET/RDS Gm 3 Oct. 17 TBD CLE@ TOR TBS/SNET/RDS Gm 4 Oct. 18 TBD CLE @ TOR TBS/SNET/RDS *Gm 5 Oct. 19 TBD CLE@ TOR TBS/SNET/RDS *Gm 6 Oct. 21 TBD TOR @ CLE TBS/SNET/RDS *Gm 7 Oct. 22 TBD TOR @ CLE TBS/SNET/RDS *- If necessary | All times listed ET  • Complete postseason coverageShop for postseason gear: Blue Jays | Indians

Estrada is no stranger to the big stage. He carried a shutout into the ninth inning in Game 1 of the AL Division Series against Texas, and in four postseason starts, the nine-year veteran has a 1.95 ERA. Estrada is the natural choice on a team that had plenty of options.

“All I know, you look back at the last couple of years, how good Marco has been for us in big games, playoff games, and really two straight years of regular-season games,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said.

“I think he was kind of the logical choice. We could have gone with anybody and felt good, but he has been so good in that role and we’ll just shape it after him in the next couple of days.”

The decision to go with Estrada would have made sense no …

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