Blue Jays' Marcus Stroman to start AL wild card game vs. Orioles

Marcus Stroman will take the mound for the Toronto Blue Jays in Tuesday's American League wild-card game against visiting Baltimore (8:08 p.m. ET).

The 25-year-old, who was 9-10 with a 4.37 earned-run average in the regular season, was given the nod over left-hander Francisco Liriano, who manager John Gibbons said would be available in relief, if needed, along with fellow starter Marco Estrada.

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"I think Stro's the perfect guy," Gibbons said at Monday's news conference. "Big game, I've seen him do it before. He's gonna come out throwing strikes, so we're glad he's available. You want your best competitors out there."

"There are no pitches you can take off," Stroman told reporters. "Each pitch you have has to be executed. You make a mistake and they make you pay. So that's the mentality going into it."

Stroman was a key pitcher down the stretch for the Blue Jays last season. Toronto won the East title and beat Texas in the ALDS before falling to Kansas City in the AL Championship Series.

He struggled at times earlier this year and hasn't won since Aug. 14 despite pitching well in recent weeks. In six September starts, Stroman had a 0-5 record and 3.41 ERA.

"[I] definitely had an up-and-down year and battled a lot of adversity," Stroman said. "I think I've done a pretty decent job at making adjustments throughout the year that were key for me and able to pay off down the stretch.

"I'm at a point now where I feel great, mechanics feel great, body feels great. I'm actually feeling at my strongest now. So I'm excited."

Stroman has made three post-season starts, all last fall, and has a 1-0 record, 4.19 earned-run average and 1.34 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched).

His best playoff outing came last Oct. 14 in Toronto's 6-3 victory over Texas in the deciding game of a best-of-five AL Division Series at the Rogers Centre.

Stroman tossed six strong innings in a no-decision, allowing two runs (both earned) on six hits while striking out four. He threw first-pitch strikes to 19 of 25 batters, got 10 groundball outs and threw 68 of his 98 pitches for strikes.

7.04 season ERA vs. Orioles

In 16 starts at home this season, Stroman is 4-3 with a 4.59 ERA and 1.26 WHIP.

He is 1-2 in four starts versus Baltimore with a 7.04 ERA, having yielded 33 hits in 23 innings while only walking four against 12 strikeouts.

Many considered Liriano the favourite to start Tuesday after he blanked the Orioles over 6 1/3 innings last week, holding them to six hits while walking one and fanning 10.

Liriano, who was acquired from Pittsburgh on Aug. 1, has a 2.92 ERA in 10 games (eight starts) with Toronto and a 2.03 ERA since Sept. 1.

Gibbons said having the ex-Pirates southpaw and the right-handed Estrada available provides him with a deeper bullpen and options should Stroman struggle early or if the game goes into extra innings.

"They've got some pretty good left-handed hitters," said Gibbons of Baltimore. "Chris Davis [is] one of the biggest power threats in the game. [Outfielder Hyun Soo] Kim has done a helluva job for them. He's a real tough out. They've got a power-packed lineup."

Tillman's 'tough, a strike-thrower'

Chris Tillman, who limited the Jays to two runs over 5 2/3 innings last Wednesday, will start for the Orioles. He went 16-6 in 30 regular-season starts with a 3.77 ERA.

Tillman, 28, is 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA in two post-season appearances.

The right-hander has failed to last six innings in each of his past three starts and has a 4.45 ERA in 11 starts since the all-star break.

In 24 career starts versus Toronto, Tillman is 5-10 with a 5.44 ERA, one complete game and a 1.37 WHIP.

"Chris has been one of their top guys the last few years," said Gibbons. "He's tough and can throw anything at any time. He's a strike-thrower, a very good pitcher.

"Hopefully he makes some mistakes and we do something with it."

The winner of the one-game playoff will face Texas in a best-of-five ALDS, starting Thursday in Arlington.