Apr 25, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons (5) in the dugout during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Griffith-USA TODAY Sports
Taking on the Baltimore Orioles in a double header on Thursday, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons elected to rest his starters, having clinched the AL East title on Wednesday night.
The Jays are in the hunt for top record, and thus homefield advantage, in the American League, causing some to criticize Gibbons.
Speaking to the media, the Blue Jays skipper defended the decision.
"My job is to take care of these guys, make sure they're ready to go when it counts, not what other people think," Gibbons said via the National Post. "Yeah, we'd love to (secure best record), but I've got to do what's best for these guys, not what some bozo out there in fantasy land thinks."
The Jays will field their starts on Friday, however.
"They'll all be in there (Friday) night. Nobody is shutting it down. We've got to keep these guys playing until the end, get them ready."
David Price was scheduled to start Thursday, but was scratched due to a fever.
With the Kansas City Royals winning Thursday, the two teams sit tied atop the American League with identical 92-67 records with three left to play.
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