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Jays, Rangers kick off 3-game set in Arlington
By: Staff Writer - StatFox
Published: 5/13/2016  at  5:11:00 AM
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By Brad Kallet

TORONTO BLUE JAYS (18-18)

at TEXAS RANGERS (20-15)

First pitch: Friday, 8:05 p.m. ET
Line: Toronto -107, Texas -103, Total: 10.0

Martin Perez and the Rangers kick off a three-game series with R.A. Dickey and the Blue Jays in Arlington.

The Rangers (20-15) are coming off an impressive series win over the first-place White Sox, and have won five of six. The Blue Jays (18-18) have won seven of 11, and took two of three from the first-place Giants in San Francisco earlier this week. These two teams played last week in Toronto, and the Jays took three out of four from the Rangers. Three of those four games went UNDER the total. Over the past three seasons, Toronto has gone 14-7 against Texas, and 12 of the 20 games have gone UNDER the total. On the mound for the Rangers will be LHP Martin Perez (1-2, 3.51 ERA, 25 SO, 23 BB, 3 HR in 41 IP). Perez faced the Blue Jays on May 3 and earned a no-decision despite throwing five scoreless frames. He’ll be opposed by Blue Jays RHP R.A. Dickey (1-4, 5.18 ERA, 28 SO, 15 BB, 5 HR in 40 IP). Dickey faced the Rangers on May 2 and also took a no-decision despite pitching well. He allowed one earned run on six hits in 6 1/3 innings. The Blue Jays have gone 9-8 on the road, while the Rangers have posted a 12-6 mark at Globe Life Park in Arlington.

The Blue Jays’ best hitter this season has been LF Michael Saunders (.315, 5 HR, 11 RBI, .388 OBP), and they’ve gotten plenty of production from 3B Josh Donaldson (.285, 9 HR, 21 RBI, .391 OBP), last year’s American League MVP. DH Edwin Encarnacion (.245, 6 HR, 27 RBI, .307 OBP), RF Jose Bautista (.208, 6 HR, 22 RBI, .357 OBP) and SS Troy Tulowitzki (.172, 6 HR, 16 RBI, .275 OBP) have underachieved at the plate, but they’re always threats to go deep. Donaldson has absolutely teed off against Perez in his career, going 6-for-15 with a homer, three doubles, two RBIs and four walks. 1B Justin Smoak (.297, 2 HR, 9 RBI, .430 OBP) has also had success against the 25-year-old lefty, going 5-for-13 with a pair of doubles. In six career starts against the Rangers, Dickey has gone 2-2 with a 3.11 ERA and a 1.141 WHIP. Over the last two seasons, Toronto has gone 13-4 OVER in road games against AL West opponents.

The Rangers are second in the AL in runs (166), third in average (.263) and fourth in on-base percentage (.321), so Dickey will have his work cut out for him. Rookie RF Nomar Mazara (.314, 4 HR, 12 RBI, .372 OBP) has had a terrific year for manager Jeff Banister, as has 22-year-old 2B Rougned Odor (.298, 7 HR, 21 RBI, .327 OBP). SS Elvis Andrus (.284, 0 HR, 14 RBI, .325 OBP) has cooled off since his scorching start, and 3B Adrian Beltre (.282, 5 HR, 25 RBI, .331 OBP)—despite his advanced age—remains the most dangerous hitter in this lineup. DH Prince Fielder (.198, 2 HR, 20 RBI, .260) looks like a shell of his former self at the plate. LF Ian Desmond (.260, 4 HR, 19 RBI, .336 OBP) has seen the most of Dickey of any Ranger, and has gone 6-for-28 with a double and a triple against him. Beltre, Fielder and 1B Mitch Moreland (.252, 4 HR, 16 RBI, .325 OBP) have all homered off the knuckleballer. In two career starts against the Blue Jays, Perez has gone 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.600 WHIP.


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