IBL Championship Series Preview - Toronto Maple Leafs vs London Majors

The Leafs will look to rack up runs against London in their pursuit of the Dominico Cup.

The Toronto Maple Leafs' 2021 postseason run has been unstoppable.

So far, it's been all about revenge and redemption.

In the quarterfinals, the Leafs faced the Hamilton Cardinals and sought revenge for being bumped off in a one-game wild card back in 2014.  The Leafs swept the Cards.

In the semifinals, the Leafs faced the Barrie Baycats and sought to redeem themselves after years of defeats at their rivals' hands.  The Leafs swept the 'Cats.

Demons have been dispensed with.

Toronto is now three wins away from winning its first IBL title since 2007.

To get there, the unstoppable force will have to smash through an immovable object.  That would be the London Majors, who finished the regular season in first place with a 22-8 record, six games better than the Leafs.

The matchup is irresistible.  The Leafs are a swashbuckling gang of sluggers who can score runs in bunches, bushels and barrels.  The Majors have the IBL's two best starting pitchers and the lowest team ERA in the league.

Will it be, as they say, a case of good pitching beats good hitting?

Or can the Leafs win it with the approach favoured by old-time Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver: pitching, defence and the three-run home run?

We are about to find out.

AT THE PLATE

Through the first two rounds of the postseason, Damon Topolie's Bomb Squad has lived up to its reputation.

In four games - FOUR GAMES - the Leafs have produced the following eye-popping stats:

- 60 hits

- 12 home runs

- 52 runs

- 106 total bases

A direct comparison with the Majors would not work because they have only played two games so far.  However it is safe to say that the Leafs are averaging more than any other club in most offensive categories.

Quite simply, if the Leafs can get hits, the runs will follow.

The Majors come into the series with talented batsmen of their own like Byron Reichstein, Hayden Jaco, and longtime slugger Cleveland Brownlee who is always a threat.

KEY STAT: Through four postseason games, designated hitter Sean Reilly has gone 15 for 20 at the plate for a .750 batting average. 

ON THE MOUND

The Leafs' veteran aces have delivered so far this postseason.  

In four games, Marek Deska and Justin Cicatello have combined for four wins.  They will be looked to once again to take games deep.  If the Leafs are ahead late, closer Dustin Richardson will be there to slam the door.

Starting pitching is where London excels.  London's stars this season have been starters Owen Boon (8-1, 2.32) and former Leaf Pedro De Los Santos (7-2, 2.19).  They had the two lowest ERAs in the league and they present the challenge the Leafs will have to overcome if they want to win this series.

KEY STAT: 16 was the number of strikeouts recorded by Boon in a complete game shutout of the Brantford Red Sox in the semifinals.  

THE HISTORY

The only time these two clubs have met in the finals was back in 1982.  The Leafs won that series four games to two.

Toronto's most recent postseason series against London was in the 2016 semifinals.  The Leafs won that series four games to three.  In the ninth inning of game seven, Grant Tamane hit a go-ahead home run that sent the Leafs to the finals.

This summer, London won the season series three games to two.

You couldn't ask for a better matchup.  Number one against number two.  Pitching against hitting.  Two winning clubs, each with their own style.  Let's goooo!

IBL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES SCHEDULE (best 3 out of 5)

Game 1
Friday, September 24 - Toronto at London - 7:35 pm
Toronto starter: Justin Cicatello

Game 2
Sunday, September 26 - London at Toronto - 2:00 pm
Toronto starter: Marek Deska

Game 3 
Tuesday, September 28 - Toronto at London - 7:35 pm 
Toronto starter: TBC

Game 4 (if necessary)
Thursday, September 30 - London at Toronto - 7:30 pm

Game 5 (if necessary)
Friday, October 1 - Toronto at London - 7:30 pm