Rangers vs Blue Jays Series Preview: Both Teams in Playoff Battle
Toronto Hosts Texas in Key 4-Game Series
The Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays are both in the middle of a battle for the playoffs. The Blue Jays have been relegated to a wild-card berth. Texas has an outside chance at the division title but is just one-half game out of a wild card spot. Toronto is playing better of the two, going 8-2 in its last 10 games compared to the Rangers’ 3-7 mark. The Rangers vs Blue Jays series preview will look at all four games as pitching matchups are set.
Dane Dunning and Chris Bassitt have the starts in Monday’s opener. Dunning is 9-6 with a 3.88 ERA for Texas. Bassitt is 14-7 with a 3.69 ERA for the Blue Jays. Toronto is -145 and the total on the game is 9-over (-120).
Despite a run differential of +142, the Rangers are 78-64 on the season. The team’s expected win-loss record is 84-58 based on scoring differential. The Rangers are No. 2 in team batting average and No. 3 in runs scored. Pitching, relief pitching in particular, has been the sore spot for Texas all season. The Rangers are No. 17 in team ERA, but the bullpen has converted just 27 saves in 56 opportunities.
Pitching hasn’t been a problem for the Blue Jays, who lead the majors in team ERA. Toronto pitchers have converted 49 of 65 save opportunities. Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano is one of the MLB leaders 2023 and has converted 34 of his 37 save chances.
Offensively, the Blue Jays are No. 5 in team batting average, but No. 15 in runs scored. One reason is the team doesn’t hit a lot of home runs, sitting at No. 18 in round-trippers.
The Rangers are 33-34 on the road, while the Blue Jays are 80-63 overall and 38-30 at home.
Rangers vs Blue Jays 
Date & Time:
Location: Rogers Centre
Monday’s Game
Dunning has some decent numbers this season, but Texas is just 10-11 when he starts. The Rangers have lost the last four games he’s started. He was decent against Toronto earlier this season, but the Rangers are 4-8 on the road when he starts and 3-9 in totals. The Blue Jays have gone 17-12 when Bassitt starts and are 10-18-1 in totals when he takes the mound. At home, Toronto is 8-6 with Bassitt on the mound, but 2-11-1 in totals. With both starters having under tendencies the under 9 at even money could be one of your baseball picks for Monday.
Tuesday’s Game
The Rangers vs Blue Jays series preview is showing Max Scherzer and Hyun Jin Ryu as the scheduled Game 2 starters. Ryu has pitched well for the Blue Jays since coming back from injury. He’s 3-2 on the season with an ERA of 2.65. Toronto has won five of his seven starts. Scherzer is 12-6 with a 3.91 ERA on the season. Texas is 4-3 in the seven games he’s started since picking up in a trade. The Rangers are 25-15 against left-handed starters, scoring 5.88 runs per game. Against right-handed starters, Texas scores 5.28 runs per game.
Ryu is still working on getting his stamina up. In seven starts, he’s lasted 34 innings. He’s pitched five innings in six starts and went four innings in his second start. So Toronto’s bullpen will get some work here. Texas could be worth a look if the Blue Jays are favored.
Wednesday’s Game
The Rangers vs Blue Jays series preview notes a pair of left-handers starting Game 3. The Rangers will send Jordan Montgomery to the mound to face Yusei Kikuchi. Montgomery is 8-11 on the season despite a 3.62 ERA. The Rangers won two of his first three starts, but have lost his last four times to the mound. Texas has allowed 26 runs in those four games. Kikuchi is 9-5 with a 3.57 ERA. The Blue Jays are 18-10 when he starts and 9-4 when he starts at home. Toronto has allowed 22 runs in his last three starts, so neither pitcher is tearing it up right now. The total will likely come out about 9 and the over could be the way to go.
Thursday’s Game
The Rangers will send Nathan Eovaldi to the mound to square off against Kevin Gausman in another decent pitching matchup. Eovaldi is 11-4 with a 2.90 ERA this season. Gausman has gone 11-8 with a 3.28 ERA. Texas is 12-9 when Eovaldi starts and 6-5 when he starts on the road. The Blue Jays have gone 15-13 with Gausman on the mound and 8-6 when he starts at home. The total in this one will be 8 or 8.5. The MLB score predictions have the Blue Jays winning 3.8-3.7, so there could be a bit of value on the under.
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