The Toronto Blue Jays are looking to take a commanding lead in the American League Division Series today when they take on the Texas Rangers. The game is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on TBS. The MLB Playoff Odds for the game have the Rangers favored to pick up the victory at home.
MLB Playoff Odds
Texas -125
Total: 9 runs
Toronto is looking to keep some momentum going from Game 1 of this series, when the Blue Jays whacked it around the yard and scored 10 runs. Texas starter Cole Hamels just couldn’t get anybody out in that third inning and then the game ballooned to a problem and the Rangers just couldn’t recover.
Yu Darvish is tabbed with trying to stop that momentum today. Darvis won seven games this season in limited time coming off an injury, but he still struck out 132 hitters over just over 100 innings of work. Darvish actually has an ERA two full runs higher at home covering three more starts, which is a bit alarming given the way this Blue Jays team has been swinging the bat in their two playoff games to date. Darvish, though, has kept the Blue Jay hitters in check during his 98 at bats against them, allowing Toronto to hit .184 with Edwin Encarnacion having the only power numbers with two home runs.
Toronto counters with J.A. Happ, who had an excellent season at 20-4 with a 3.18 ERA. Happ benefitted from pitching at home but also won nine of his starts on the road as well, one of his wins this season inside the Rogers Centre came over Texas where he allowed just one earned run in seven innings. Current Rangers are hitting .265 against him in 170 at bats, Carlos Beltran has three home runs in his career off Happ.
This is a tough one with two excellent hurlers on the mound. Texas should be able to find a way to bounce back offensively, but going against a gritty guy like Happ won’t be easy.
Free Pick: Texas
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