Toronto @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 14, 2013 ) Toronto 8, Texas 0

R.A. Dickey has undergone a career renaissance since leaving the Texas Rangers, but has fallen on hard times this season. The National League Cy Young winner will look to turn things around Saturday as the Toronto Blue Jays continue their four-game series in Texas. Dickey struggled over parts of five seasons with the Rangers, and the veteran knuckleballer is going through similar issues in his first season in Toronto.

Dickey will try to build on an impressive showing by Mark Buehrle, who stymied Texas over seven sensational innings en route to an 8-0 victory Friday night. The win moved Toronto back to within six games of the elusive .500 mark, its best record since late April. The Rangers send hard-throwing right-hander Josh Lindblom to the hill as they hope to put the brakes on a four-game losing skid.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), FSSW (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH R.A. Dickey (5-8, 5.11 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Josh Lindblom (0-1, 5.91)

Dickey was a first-round pick of the Rangers in 1996 but couldn't earn a permanent spot on the club, going 16-19 with a 5.72 ERA in 33 starts and 44 relief appearances. He emerged as one of the best pitchers in the league with the New York Mets last season, but hasn't carried that success back to the American League. The 38-year-old was tagged for seven runs on 10 hits over five innings against the White Sox last time out, and has lost three of his last four starts.

With Alexi Ogando (right shoulder inflammation) out indefinitely, Lindblom was handed a spot start earlier this week. He held the Cleveland Indians to three runs over six strong innings, prompting manager Ron Washington to give him another turn. "He kept us in the ballgame," Washington said of Lindblom, who has never faced the Blue Jays. "He kept it down in the zone. He did a really good job."

WALK-OFFS

1. A.J. Pierzynski has had the most success of any Rangers hitter against Dickey, going 4-for-9 with a homer.

2. Blue Jays C J.P. Arencibia's .233 on-base percentage is second-lowest in the majors among players who qualify for the batting title.

3. Toronto has already clinched the season series for the third time in four seasons.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 7, Rangers 6