[4:30 PM] Blue Jays @ Rangers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Toronto Blue Jays (89-73)

@ Texas Rangers (95-67)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Estrada (TOR): 9-9; 3.48 ERA

Hamels (TEX) 15-5; 3.32 ERA

 

Last 10 Games Played:

Toronto Blue Jays: 7-3

Texas Rangers: 6-4

 

Current odds:

Toronto Blue Jays: (+107)

Texas Rangers: (-117)

 

• ESPN simulations have Toronto as XX% favorites to win the game.

• XX% of sports bets are currently on Texas to win as (XX) favorites.

• The Texas Rangers and the Toronto Blue Jays don’t like each other very much and aren’t afraid to show it on the field. Both teams try to keep their emotions in check when they meet in the American League Division Series for the second straight season, with the top-seeded Rangers hosting Game 1 on Thursday.

• Estrada was strong down the stretch, allowing a total of two runs in 19 innings over his final three turns, to bounce back from a rough stretch over the previous month. The 33-year-old Californian did some of his best work in the playoffs last season with a 2-1 record and a 2.33 ERA in three starts to go along with 15 strikeouts and one walk. One of those wins came at Texas, where Estrada breezed through 6 1/3 innings on one run and five hits to help Toronto avoid elimination in Game 3.

• The Rangers try to take a commanding lead in the series by throwing aces Hamels and Yu Darvish in the first two games, with Hamels getting the nod in the opener. The former World Series hero for the Philadelphia Phillies struggled down the stretch, allowing five or more runs in four of his final six starts, but went at least six innings in each of the last four. Hamels started twice in the postseason against Toronto in 2015 and went 0-1 while allowing a total of nine runs (four earned) in 13 1/3 innings.

• The Rangers’ bullpen had a string of 35 1/3 scoreless innings come to an end in the regular-season finale.

• Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna (shoulder) left Tuesday’s wild-card game but said he would be ready for Game 1.

• Toronto took four of seven from Texas in the regular season, with Odor going 6-for-31 and Bautista 5-for-28.

StreakSmarts Pick: Texas Rangers

Confidence: 5/10

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