Toronto @ Texas preview
Globe Life Park in Arlington
Last Meeting ( Jun 15, 2013 ) Toronto 6, Texas 1
Two teams headed in different directions meet Sunday when the struggling Texas Rangers try to avoid a four-game sweep at home against the surging Toronto Blue Jays. Texas has dropped five straight at Rangers Ballpark for the first time since 2009 – scoring a total of six runs – and hasn’t lost six in a row at home since 2005. Not even the return of leadoff hitter Ian Kinsler could spark the offense in Saturday’s 6-1 setback, the Rangers’ fifth loss in six games against Toronto.
Conversely, the Blue Jays have won seven of their last nine and will attempt to mount their first five-game winning streak since July 2011. Toronto’s pitching staff has dominated Texas this season, holding the Rangers to one or zero runs in four of the six meetings. The offense has held up its end of the bargain as well, helping the Blue Jays outscore Texas 31-12 as the teams meet for the final time this season.
TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), FSSW (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Chien-Ming Wang (0-0, 6.14 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Derek Holland (5-3, 3.11)
Wang escaped with a no-decision in his Toronto debut during Tuesday’s 7-5 road win over the Chicago White Sox. The 33-year-old sinkerballer, who signed a minor-league contract with the team one day earlier, permitted five runs and 10 hits over 7 1/3 innings. Wang last faced the Rangers in 2009 as a member of the New York Yankees and is 2-1 with a 5.67 ERA in five career appearances (four starts) against Texas.
Holland endured his shortest outing of the season and took the loss during Tuesday’s 5-2 home setback against the Cleveland Indians. The left-hander gave up four runs and nine hits over 4 1/3 innings to fall to 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA at Rangers Ballpark. Holland – who is 0-2 despite a 2.86 ERA in three-day starts – is 3-0 over his last four starts against the Blue Jays, carrying a 0.84 ERA in those victories.
WALK-OFFS
1. A win on Sunday would give Toronto its first four-game road sweep of Texas in team history.
2. Kinsler, who missed 25 games due to bruised ribs, went 0-for-4 with a walk Saturday and is hitless in six career at-bats against Wang.
3. Texas scored three runs or fewer in 11 of its last 14 contests.
PREDICTION: Rangers 3, Blue Jays 2