John Gibbons confident in ALDS Game 5 starter Marcus Stroman
Availability of Blue Jays lefties Price, Loup out of bullpen unknown
The Toronto Blue Jays are putting their faith in Marcus Stroman with their season on the line against the Texas Rangers in Game 5 of the American League Division Series.
The 24-year-old who missed the majority of the season with a torn ACL in his left knee is set to face playoff veteran Cole Hamels in the deciding game of the first-round series Wednesday (4:10 p.m. ET).
"He's done it in the playoffs, he's proven and he's nasty," Stroman said. "I just look forward to competing against Cole Hamels."
Hamels was the World Series MVP in 2008, and Stroman will be making his second career post-season start.
"There's something different about him," manager John Gibbons said. "If anybody can rise to the occasion it'll be him."
The pressure is on Stroman after the Blue Jays opted to use ace David Price in relief of R.A. Dickey in Game 4.
Gibbons said Price is "not here to be abused" and that he wouldn't count on the star lefty being available for Game 5 at Rogers Centre.
Without Price, Aaron Loup would be the only left-hander available out of the bullpen.
But Loup's status is unclear after he missed Game 4 with a personal matter.
Gibbons said he did not know if Loup would be available.