Behind Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays chase series win vs. Rockies

The Toronto Blue Jays would be pleased if right-hander Kevin Gausman repeated his Opening Day performance on Wednesday afternoon in the rubber match of a three-game series against the visiting Colorado Rockies.

Gausman (0-0, 1.50 ERA) struck out 11 and allowed only one run on one hit over six innings in Toronto's 3-2 victory over the Athletics on Friday.

"The way he pitched in the playoffs is what I saw from him (Opening Day)," catcher Alejandro Kirk said. "He was just out there competing, making pitches."

Gausman's strong pitching was a big reason why the Blue Jays advanced to the World Series last season. He went 2-3 with a 2.93 ERA in the postseason.

After falling 14-5 in the series opener against the Rockies on Monday, Toronto evened the set with a 5-1 victory on Tuesday.

Gausman is 3-2 with a 4.78 ERA in nine career starts against the Rockies. He was 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in one start vs. them last season.

Left-hander Kyle Freeland (0-1, 4.15) is Colorado's scheduled starter on Wednesday. Freeland is 0-2 with a 9.31 ERA in two career starts against the Blue Jays. He was 0-1 with an 11.57 ERA in his start vs. them last season.

The Blue Jays and Rockies both have had to deal with losing a starting pitcher early in this series.

Toronto lost right-hander Cody Ponce in the third inning on Monday when he injured his right knee as he tried to field a grounder. Ponce has been diagnosed with an ACL sprain of the right knee and was put on the injured list. Fellow right-hander Lazaro Estrada was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo.

Toronto manager John Schneider said Ponce will miss "significant time" but was not going to rule out a return this season.

"That's what we're holding onto, until we have all the opinions," Schneider said. "I think there's probably a slight chance of that."

Colorado lost starter Ryan Feltner on Tuesday after he was hit on the hip by Andres Gimenez's line drive that went for an infield hit. Feltner completed the inning but did not return to the game because of a bruised right hip.

"He's going to be fine," Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said. "It tightened up a little bit, but I think we avoided something."

Feltner's injury is not expected to affect Colorado's rotation. He retired his first eight batters of the game, and had four strikeouts, before Gimenez's hit.

Toronto obviously will need to find a replacement for Ponce with several starters already on the injured list. Friday is a day off in the schedule, but Schneider said he likely will keep all of his starters on their regular schedule.

"I don't think we're going to bump anyone with the off-day coming up," he said. "We're going to keep them regularly scheduled. We'll have to use our depth. We'll have to use whoever can offer length, whether that's one or two times through."

Estrada could start when Ponce's turn in the rotation comes up, but he could also be used as a reliever that would open a starting spot for another pitcher.

Freeland was Colorado's Opening Day starter against the Miami Marlins last week, allowing two runs, five hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

"I thought (Freeland) pitched very well," Schaeffer said. "I thought he attacked the strike zone and got ahead. Fastballs, curveballs, but just two mistakes over the plate that he would like to have back."

--Field Level Media