Blue Jays playoff times announced, sick days begin to fly

Major League Baseball has announced playoff start times for the ALDS and NLDS through until Sunday, giving us a clearer sense of step one on the Toronto Blue Jays journey. If you’re a Blue Jays playoff ticket holder that works a 9-to-5 weekday job, now would be a good time to lay the groundwork for a “sick” day later in the week.

There’s already been some backlash from Toronto fans due to the afternoon starts, but it’s unlikely that the commissioner’s office will be swayed by Twitter. Even if the games were played at 4AM on the surface of the Moon, we’re talking about Blue Jays playoff baseball here. It’s not all bad.

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Game one of the series will be dependent on the result between the New York Yankees and Houston Astros, who face off Tuesday night. The Yankees received some unexpected news earlier today when pitcher C.C. Sabathia left the team to receive treatment for alcohol and will reportedly miss the remainder of the season. Good on Sabathia, too, there’s things bigger than this game. Most things, really.

An Astros win would give the Blue Jays a 3:37 ET start with Dallas Keuchel having gone in the Wild Card game, while a Yankees win would push that start time back to 4:07 ET. If you’re an American television network executive, you just bought a Yankees hat.

Other than simple scheduling logistics, the only thing that’s really changed today is the potential for the Rogers Centre roof to be open during each game, assuming the temperatures stay where they’re expected. We hear one hundred times a season how the closed dome can house “dead” or “heavy” air, so with a team that’s head over heels in love with the long ball, open skies may be a welcome sight.

Next: Facing the Rangers could make Aaron Loup a necessity

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