Blue Jays Announce Wild Card Series Game 1 Starter

The Toronto Blue Jays have made their decision. 

Alex Manoah will start Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series on Friday against the Seattle Mariners in the best-of-three series at Rogers Centre in Toronto. 

What did Alek Manoah do Tuesday morning when it became clear he'll be making his playoff debut in Toronto in three days? “I’ve been watching Encarnacion’s walk off home run on repeat a good amount. It’s going to be pretty electric.” #Bluejays

— Rob Longley (@longleysunsport) October 4, 2022

This appeared to be the obvious choice, as Manoah has been the Blue Jays' best starting pitcher, not only all season but for the past month especially. 

In six starts in September, Manoah posted a phenomenal 0.88 ERA with a 4-0 record. His September starts came against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays, Orioles again, the Rays again, and the Boston Red Sox. 

For the season, the twenty-four-year-old registered a stellar 2.24 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, with 180 strikeouts over 196.2 innings of work. He held a 16-7 record over 31 starts. 

It might be time for everyone to put some more respect on the name Alek Manoah 😳 pic.twitter.com/GsadOvrUwS

— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) October 1, 2022

Manoah has faced the Mariners just once this season, on July 9, going 7.1 innings of two-run baseball, striking out seven and allowing just three hits in the Blue Jays' 2-1 loss. 

Photo Credit:  John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports