The Toronto Blue Jays nearly picked up a third-straight win against the Texas Rangers and will look to close out the series with a victory in Arlington on Thursday.
Toronto Blue Jays at Texas Rangers
Toronto has scored 22 runs in the first three games of this series and will look to capture the series before moving on to the Bronx to face New York. The Blue Jays dropped a 7-6 decision last night, but many inside the clubhouse, including manager John Farrell were happy with the effort. “We swung the bat exceptionally well again tonight,” Farrell commented. “Even getting the two-run lead and fighting back in, we responded to the six-run inning they had the very next inning with three runs of our own.” A key player in the offensive surge has been outfielder Juan Rivera, who moved his average to .210 with a 3-for-4 game on Wednesday, after batting .103 before starting a six-game hitting streak. Toronto is 7-10 versus right-handed starters this season.
Blue Jays starting pitcher Brandon Morrow took a loss in his first start of the season against the Rays at home, allowing three runs and three hits over 5.1 innings of work while striking out 10. “He was outstanding,” Farrell stated after Morrow’s season debut. “You continue to increase that over six, seven, eight innings, that’s the guy that was very effective for the vast majority of last year.” The right-hander is 3-4 with a 4.55 ERA in 15 career appearances (three starts) versus the Blue Jays.
Texas used a six-run third inning to end a two-game losing streak and move its record to a solid 15-9 on the season. The Rangers have been switching relievers in and out of the bullpen all through this homestand, but are still 14-0 this season when leading after the seventh and eighth innings. It will be very important for the unit to be available and ready this afternoon, considering the club has dropped 10 of its last 12 meetings with today’s opponent. Texas is 6-4 in day games this season and 51-52 over the past three years.
Rangers starting pitcher Alexi Ogando is scheduled to make his fifth start of the season this afternoon, bringing in a perfect 3-0 record and 2.13 ERA. The right-hander has never faced Toronto in his career and will be looking for the offense to provide him some support. Texas has managed to score three-runs-or-less in each of his three wins. Ogando has allowed six runs this season, with all of them coming on the four home runs he’s allowed on the season. He has tossed at least 6.0 innings in every outing and issued two walks or less in every start.
Bettors will be interested in backing the Blue Jays due to their 7-3 record in Morrow’s last 10 starts, while the Rangers are 1-4 versus right-handed starters.
