The Texas Rangers took a 1-0 lead in their American League Division Series matchup with the Toronto Blue Jays, after hacking out a narrow 5-3 victory. Will the Rangers have their way again today against Toronto starter Marcus Stroman? Or will the Blue Jays strike back to knot the series at 1-1?
Read on below for a breakdown of this ALDS clash and while you’re at it, you can check out our NLDS Game 1 previews of Cubs vs.Cardinals and Mets vs. Dodgers.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Texas Rangers vs. Toronto Blue Jays ALDS Game 2 Preview
Where: Rogers Centre, Toronto
When: Friday, October 9, 12:45 PM ET
Line: Texas Rangers (+155) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (-175); total: 8.0 – view all MLB lines
TV Broadcast: MLBN
Betting on the Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers opened their 2015 MLB postseason with a bang, blasting the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-3, to grab a surprise 1-0 lead in their best-of-five series. Yovani Gallardo continued his dominance of the Blue Jays, allowing just two runs and four hits in five solid innings in the series opener. Gallardo is now 4-0 with a 1.78 ERA in four career starts against Toronto. The Rangers now set their sights on a commanding 2-0 lead when they take on the Blue Jays in Game 2 later today.
[sc:MLB240banner ]Pitching for the Rangers in this all-important contest is left-hander Cole Hamels (13-8, 3.65 ERA). He was terrific in the Rangers’ playoff-clinching season finale last Sunday, throwing a complete-game three-hitter in Texas’ 9-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Hamels went 7-1 with a 3.66 ERA in 12 starts for the Rangers this season after being traded by the Phillies at the deadline.
One advantage that Hamels has in this critical game is his vast playoff experience. In 13 postseason starts for the Phillies, he went 7-4 with a 3.09 ERA. He’s had some difficulty, though, in his past meetings with the Blue Jays. He’s 0-2 with a 6.97 ERA in four career starts against Toronto.
Given Hamels’ past struggles against the Blue Jays, it’s crucial for the Rangers’ hitters to pull their weight on the offensive end. They could be missing, however, the services of star third baseman Adrian Beltre who left Game 1 in tears with a painful back injury. With Beltre possibly out for today’s Game 2, the onus is on Rougned Odor to carry the scoring load for the Rangers. He had a big day at the plate and on the bases in Game 1, scoring three runs in his first three plate appearances. He’s 0-for-2 lifetime against Jays starter Marcus Stroman.
The Rangers are 5-0 in their last five Divisional Playoff road games.
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Betting on the Toronto Blue Jays
David Price was simply no match against the big bats of the Rangers, who scored five runs off the AL Cy Young candidate in Game 1. After Texas’ offense sent that powerful message to the Blue Jays’ pitching staff, it’s now time for Marcus Stroman to get on the mound and prove that his late-season numbers were indicators that he’s about to turn it on in this year’s playoffs.
After completing a miraculous comeback from a torn ACL back in Spring Training, the right-hander has been nearly untouchable, putting up a 4-0 slate with a 1.67 ERA in four starts. He was borderline flawless, allowing just five runs and striking out 18 over 27 innings. Stroman has faced Texas once before in his career, picking up the win back on July 19, 2014. He didn’t allow a run or a walk while striking out five over seven innings in that said start.
He can’t do it all alone, though, and he needs the Blue Jays’ hitters to pick up the scoring slack as well. Toronto, which led the majors in runs scored this season, managed just three runs in that Game 1 defeat. It didn’t help matters that offensive stalwarts Josh Donaldson and Joey Bautista left the series opener with various injuries.
With their status for Game 2 still uncertain, the pressure is on Edwin Encarnacion, Troy Tulowitzki and Russell Martin to lead the Jays’ offense today. They are a combined 15-of-47 against Hamels with four homers and seven RBIs. The trio recorded just three hits last night with Encarnacion driving in the lone RBI.
The Blue Jays are 5-0 in Stroman’s last five starts.
Writer’s Prediction
Toronto (-175) wins, 5-2.
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