Toronto Blue Jays: 5 questions after Friday night's shutout loss

Edinson Volquez, Kansas City's hard-throwing starter, stymied the Blue Jays' powerful bats in the American League Championship Series opener, but there are a few more areas of concern for Toronto.

Can Marco Estrada figure out the Royals?

Marco Estrada gave up a double on the very first pitch of the game but managed to battle through that inning. He appeared to be fighting off a similar threat in the third, but then the Royals broke through, scoring two runs.

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Estrada, to his credit, maintained his composure and wound up striking out six batters. After the game, he blamed the six hits he gave up on control issues.

"I feel like if I could have located it a bit differently, things would have been different," he told reporters.

He'll need to figure that out, as he'll likely get another start in this series.

Can the Jays get their bats going?

The Blue Jays managed only three hits on Friday night, none of which were for extra bases.

But that didn't mean they didn't have chances. Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista both worked their way on base by drawing walks and by the end of the game the team had stranded seven baserunners.

The problem appeared to be, in part, the Blue Jays hitter laying off too many close pitches and getting called out on strikes.

The team will certainly look to make adjustments before Saturday afternoon. Don't count on the best hitting team in baseball to be shut out like that again.

Did Blue Jays-mania distract the team?

This Blue Jays team prides itself on its unflappable nature and outright refusal to hit the panic button.

But the two days since Bautista powered the Jays past the Rangers have been anything but normal, even for the ultra-cool Jays. Consider the following:

• The entire city went wild — or as wild as Canadians get on a school night — after the team won Game 5 of the ALDS.
• Some guy had a picture of Jose Bautista tattooed onto himself, something that surprised even the slugger.
• They partied, then travelled (which can't feel all that good.)

Perhaps one more night's rest in Kansas City is what the team needs.

Is Edwin OK?

Edwin Encarnacion, slugger and carrier of the imaginary parrot, left Game 1 with a finger injury.

X-Rays later confirmed it to be a sprain, but the Jays' designated hitter is listed as day-to-day.

"That thing has been bothering him all year," Manager John Gibbons said after the game.

The team will be hoping he can return, as his presence in the lineup behind Donaldson and Bautista is a terrifying thing for opposing pitchers.

Can they stop the late-game pile on?

It's well known that Kansas City has the best bullpen pitchers in baseball, so it's crucial the Jays not surrender late-game runs.

That wasn't the case on Friday, as reliever LaTroy Hawkins was tagged for two runs in the eighth inning.

The Jays game plan for Saturday — and something Toronto fans would love to see, too — is to score early and hope starter David Price can throw a gem of his own.

Game 2 of the American League Championship Series at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City begins at 4 p.m. ET.