Texas @ Toronto preview
Rogers Centre
Last Meeting ( Apr 8, 2010 ) Toronto 3, Texas 1
It’s hard to say which has been a bigger early-season surprise: the Texas Rangers’ stalwart pitching or the Toronto Blue Jays’ potent lineup.
The two will go head-to-head in a three-game weekend series beginning tonight at the Rogers Centre. It’s the Rangers’ only visit to Toronto this season, and will wrap up the season series between the teams after the Jays took two of three during their visit to Arlington last month.
The Blue Jays return home following a successful 7-3 road trip. They are coming off a 3-2 victory in Boston that gave Toronto its first win over the Red Sox this season. The Jays play their next five games at home before embarking on another 10-game swing, this one taking them to the West Coast.
Expected to finish among the American League’s bottom-feeders, Toronto has remained competitive early on thanks in large part to the long ball.
The Blue Jays enter tonight’s game with a major league-best 52 home runs – eight more than the next closest team – and three Toronto players - Alex Gonzalez (10), Vernon Wells (9) and John Buck (8) – rank in the top 10 in the AL in homers.
The Rangers have been equally as surprising and they have their pitching to thank for it. Just two seasons removed from posting the worst earned-run average in the majors, Texas ranks fifth in the AL with a 3.68 team ERA – particularly impressive considering the team plays in one of the league’s most homer-friendly stadiums.
Texas comes in to Toronto fresh off a 6-1 homestand punctuated by Wednesday’s 2-1, 12-inning win over the Oakland Athletics. The Rangers return to Arlington following the Blue Jays series for another seven-game homestand, giving them a great opportunity to boost their lead in the AL West.
Brett Cecil (2-2) gets the start for the Jays as he looks to bounce back from his worst outing of the season. The 23-year-old surrendered three runs in 5 1/3 innings as Toronto fell 7-3 to the Chicago White Sox on May 8.
The right-hander is 1-0 but boasts an unsightly 12.60 ERA all-time against Texas.
Rich Harden (2-1) counters for the Rangers. The hard-throwing righty earned a no-decision in his previous start, allowing two runs in five innings of a 3-2 win over Kansas City.
Harden hasn’t fared well in his native Canada: He’s 0-2 with a 10.61 ERA all-time at the Rogers Centre and has never beaten the Blue Jays in his career.