Left-hander Loup back with Blue Jays for ALCS

Toronto Blue Jays Jose Bautista hits a three-run home run during the seventh inning in Game 5 of baseball’s American League Division Series, Wednesday, October 14, 2015 in Toronto. The 32-year-old allowed three or fewer earned runs in 13 of his last 14 starts and did not walk a batter in either of his last two turns.

The Royals’ bullpen finished off the club’s eighth consecutive ALCS victory. Volquez gave the Royals six strong innings as they became only the fourth team all year, and the first in three months, to allow Toronto no runs and no extra-base hits in what became a 5-0 win. He threw 90 pitches, 64 for strikes and complained later about being unable to control his fastball. And while Troy Tulowitzki continues to play, he’s by his own admission not fully recovered from the shoulder injury he suffered in mid-September and won’t be completely healthy until the offseason.

The Royals broke through first with two runs in the third.

As shaky was Estrada was, Volquez was downright stoic as he circled the mound.

The Royals are playing from ahead in the postseason for a change.

Here’s the likely pitching matchups: David Price vs. Edinson Volquez in Games 1 and 5, Marco Estrada vs. Yordano Ventura in Games 2 and 6, Marcus Stroman vs. Johnny Cueto in Games 3 and 7, and R.A. Dickey vs. Kris Medlen in Game 4.

But the Royals cashed in when Alex Gordon opened the bottom of the third with a double and, one out later, Alcides Escobar drove him in with another double to right.

Bautista was left stranded on first.

Wade Davis made life interesting in the ninth, giving up a single to Kevin Pillar and walking pinch-hitter Cliff Pennington before closing the door by striking out Ben Revere, Josh Donaldson and inducing Bautista to fly out.

Toronto is a minus-150 favorite over the Royals in the American League Championship Series, which begins today in Kansas City.

This is the matchup that most baseball pundits wanted to see after their last series, two months ago, that was full of drama, big hits, and bench-clearing moments. There were no serious injuries among the building’s residents.

James didn’t offer any suggestions on what Tory should bet, but noted there is one thing Kansas City doesn’t need from his Canadian counterpart.

Center fielder Lorenzo Cain’s two-out single brought Escobar home.

The Royals went with the same roster as they did in the ALDS series against Houston…. Slight advantage: Kansas City.

The Blue Jays won the season series with the Royals, 4-3, a series that culminated in an emotional game August 2nd.

The Blue Jays are moving onto to the ALCS for the first time in over 20 years and they are coming in hot after losing the first two to Texas at home winning the next 3 to capture series from the Rangers.

“It doesn’t matter”, Price said on Friday.

Asked about the way he’d been used, Price replied: “It doesn’t matter”.

“I talked to Salvy about how we’re going to pitch this guy. I’m very honoured to be a part of it”. Maybe the Royals learned from the past and will calm down in the playoffs. Gibbons stuck around when Hillman was sacked in May 2010, working for Yost through the 2011 season. “We’re going to formulate a really good game plan and try to go out and execute”. “I have 100% confidence in myself”.

Gibbons said he harbors no ill will over their time together.