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A look at the matchup between the Blue Jays and Indians in the American League Championship Series

Toronto Blue Jays players celebrate their walk-off win in Game 3 to eliminate the Texas Rangers in the American League division series on Sunday.
Toronto Blue Jays players celebrate their walk-off win in Game 3 to eliminate the Texas Rangers in the American League division series on Sunday.
(Mark Blinch / Associated Press)
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Best-of-seven series

Game 1: Friday at Cleveland, 5 p.m.

Toronto: Estrada (9-9, 3.48 ERA)

Cleveland: Kluber (18-9, 3.14)

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Game 2: Saturday at Cleveland, 1 p.m.

Toronto: Happ (20-4, 3.18)

Cleveland: Bauer (12-8, 4.26)

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Game 3: Monday at Toronto, 5 p.m.

Cleveland: Tomlin (13-9, 4.40)

Toronto: Stroman (9-10, 4.37)

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Game 4: Tuesday at Toronto, 1 p.m.

Cleveland: Clevinger (3-3, 5.26)

Toronto: Sanchez (15-2, 3.00)

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Game 5: Wednesday at Toronto, 1 p.m.*

Cleveland: TBA

Toronto: TBA

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Game 6: Oct. 21 at Cleveland, 5 p.m.*

Toronto: TBA

Cleveland: TBA

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Game 7: Oct. 22 at Toronto, TBA*

Toronto: TBA

Cleveland: TBA

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Projected lineups

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TORONTO

Pos. Player, Avg, HR, RBI

LF Ezequiel Carrera, .248, 6, 23

3B Josh Donaldson, .284, 37, 99

1B Edwin Encarnacion, .263, 42, 127

RF Jose Bautista, .234, 22, 69

C Russell Martin, .231, 20, 74

SS Troy Tulowitzki, .254, 24, 79

DH Michael Saunders, .253, 24, 57

CF Kevin Pillar, .266, 7, 53

2B Darwin Barney, .269, 4, 19

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CLEVELAND

Pos. Player, Avg, HR, RBI

CF Rajai Davis, .249, 12, 48

2B Jason Kipnis, .275, 23, 82

SS Francisco Lindor, .301, 15, 78

1B Mike Napoli, .239, 24, 101

DH Carlos Santana, .259, 34, 87

3B Jose Ramirez, .312, 11, 76

LF Brandon Guyer, .266, 9, 32

RF Lonnie Chisenhall, .286, 8, 57

C Roberto Perez, .183, 3, 17

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Keys to the series

The X factor in the Indians’ ALDS sweep of the Boston Red Sox was left-hander Andrew Miller, perhaps the best reliever in the American League. The Indians have a fine closer in Cody Allen, so they can use Miller at any critical juncture in the middle innings, for two or even three innings at a time. But that strategy looks better with Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer starting all but one game of the series, and that likely won’t be the case for Cleveland in this best-of-seven round. The power-packed Blue Jays have better depth in the rotation and bullpen. If they hit as they did in the ALDS — eight home runs in three games against Texas — Canada will host its first World Series games since 1993.

The pick: Blue Jays in six.

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