Blake Murphy is joined by host of The JD Bunkis Podcast, JD Bunkis, to discuss the trust and excitement levels for Alek Manoah's first playoff start in the Wild Card series opener, the correlation between the faith in David Price's first playoff start for Toronto and Manoah's, and the concerns with Kevin Gausman's finger issues, before revisiting the debate between Robbie Ray and Gausman this past offseason (01:17). Then, the guys take a look at the betting odds heading into the 3-game series, and focus in on why centerfielders George Springer and Julio Rodríguez can be the x-factors this weekend (28:06). Afterward, FanGraphs' Ben Clemens chats about how he'll consume the first few series of the 2022 playoffs, why Seattle isn't benefiting from a matchup against Toronto, the strength of the Mariners' bullpen, Bo Bichette's ceiling as a hitter, and the other focal points of the series (54:25). Finally, former analyst for the Maple Leafs and current contributor at The Athletic Cam Charron jumps on to share where his fandom lies between the Mariners and Blue Jays, what stands out between baseball and hockey analytics, and why Robbie Ray scares him the most heading into this series (01:15:00).  

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.