One last time: Blue Jays play season finale Sunday against Yankees

A painful 2017 season is just about over — except, now that the end is here, I don’t want it to be.

The season, after one high (the month of May) and many lows (everything else), ends today with a 3:05 ET start against the New York Yankees.

Brett Anderson, who gave up three earned runs over five innings against the Red Sox in his last start, is on the mound for the Blue Jays today. He rebounded nicely from his September 20th outing against the Royals, when he allowed eight runs, all earned, in less than two innings.

For the Yankees, it’s lefty Jordan Montgomery and his 3.96 ERA. In his past two starts, Montgomery has pitched 12.0 innings and given up just one earned run, while walking two and striking out 11. Since May 19th, Montgomery has only given up more than four earned runs in one start.

And, of course, the game is almost certainly Jose Bautista’s last as a Blue Jay. This season has been pretty awful for the right fielder, but Bautista doesn’t think it’s simply a decline due to age. From Rosie DiManno of the Toronto Star:

Joey Bats is not remotely considering retirement.

He’s got, he believes, some good baseball left in him yet, if apparently not for the Jays.

A one-year contract in the $10-million range is reasonable (which is the reporter talking, not Bautista.)

Bautista insists he will recognize decline and this isn’t it.

“If it’s the beginning of a decline, you have to wait till later to know. I’m not a psychic. I can’t predict the future.”

One downbeat season, he maintains, is an anomaly, not a trend.

Even though New York won 2-1 yesterday, the Boston Red Sox clinched their second consecutive AL East championship with a victory over the Houston Astros. The Red Sox, in franchise history, had never won back-to-back division championships.

In the game yesterday, Marcus Stroman hit 200 innings for the second straight season. “I’m strong. I can throw another 100 innings if I want to,” Stroman told Rob Longley of The Toronto Sun. “It feels weird (not going to the playoffs).”

Stroman also addressed the blister issues he dealt with during the season. “I just made it work. I’m not going to say how difficult it was, but I didn’t miss any starts.”

Let’s hope the Blue Jays win today — especially since I spent $100 USD on tickets.