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Royals start Volquez, Blue Jays go with Estrada in ALCS

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Edinson Volquez talks to the media during a news conference before batting practice for baseball's American League Championship Series Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015 in Kansas City, Mo. Volquez will start for the Royals as they face the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 1 tomorrow. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Edinson Volquez talks to the media during a news conference before batting practice for baseball's American League Championship Series Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015 in Kansas City, Mo. Volquez will start for the Royals as they face the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 1 tomorrow. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

By Associated Press October 15, 2015 1 min read

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Royals are sending Blue Jays antagonist Edinson Volquez to the mound for Game 1 of their AL Championship Series while Toronto is countering with Marco Estrada.

The opening game is Friday night at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

It was Volquez whose inside pitching drew the ire of the Blue Jays in early August, eventually leading to a pair of bench-clearing incidents during their game at Rogers Centre. After the game, he called Blue Jays star Josh Donaldson “a little baby” for complaining about his pitching.

The Royals will start Yordano Ventura in Game 2 on Saturday, while Johnny Cueto will pitch the third game in Toronto. The Blue Jays will put David Price on the mound in Game 2, followed by Marcus Stroman and knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.