Texas Rangers Have a Lot on Their Hands in Toronto Blue Jays
By Matt Weyrich
After falling behind to the Toronto Blue Jays 1-0 in the American League Division Series, advancing in this postseason is no guarantee for the Texas Rangers.
Things weren’t pretty for the American League’s top team Thursday afternoon in Arlington, Texas. The visiting Blue Jays rode five extra-base hits and a near-complete game out of Marco Estrada to a 10-0 rout of the Rangers to take an early advantage in the ALDS.
Although Texas finished the regular season with the best record in the AL, once the playoffs begin everyone is 0-0. The Rangers do hold home field advantage in the series, but that clearly hasn’t fazed Toronto so far.
As impressive as their win total was, the team’s overall numbers were not eye-popping. On the season, the Rangers finished with a +8 run differential, 4.37 team ERA, and .755 team OPS. The Blue Jays, despite finishing with six fewer wins, enjoyed a +93 run differential, 3.78 team ERA, and .755 team OPS.
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While no one in the AL won more games in their home ballpark than Texas, the Blue Jays’ .531 winning percentage on the road was the second highest in the Junior Circuit. The Rangers have also already exhausted their ace in Cole Hamels. Toronto still has Aaron Sanchez and his AL-leading 3.00 ERA awaiting them at the Rogers Centre in Game 3.
The Rangers should be worried about this dangerous Blue Jays club. Wild Card team or not, it doesn’t get any better than Josh Donaldson, Edwin Encarnacion, and Jose Bautista in the middle of your lineup. The rotation is deep, back-end of the bullpen solid, and clutch factor immeasurable.
Already down 1-0 in the series, Texas is going to need to find an offensive rhythm against Blue Jays pitching if they’re to advance to the ALCS. J.A. Happ is slated to take the mound against Yu Darvish in Game 2, an even matchup that should result in a low-scoring affair. Neither starter faced the opposing team during the regular season.
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At the end of the day, this series is about as even as it gets. The Rangers may have finished with the better regular season record, but the Blue Jays will be able to hang with them step-for-step. Toronto is going to give them a hell of a fight, and the Rangers should by no means get complacent just because they’re the higher seed.