[1:05 PM] Blue Jays @ Rangers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Toronto Blue Jays

@ Texas Rangers

 

Starting Pitchers:

Happ (TOR): 20-4; 3.18 ERA

Darvish (TEX) 7-5; 3.41 ERA

 

Last 10 Games Played:

Toronto Blue Jays: 6-4

Texas Rangers: 5-5

 

Current odds:

Toronto Blue Jays: (+115)

Texas Rangers: (-125)

 

• 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 Toronto Blue Jays attempt to take a commanding lead in their American League Division Series when they visit the Texas Rangers for Game 2 on Friday afternoon. Less than 48 hours after outlasting Baltimore in 11 innings in the Wild-Card Game, Toronto put the boots to Texas ace Cole Hamels by tagging the left-hander for seven runs over 3 1/3 frames en route to a 10-1 triumph in the series opener.

• Happ is coming off the best season of his career, finishing as one of the major league’s three 20-game winners while also posting a career best in strikeouts (163). The 33-year-old native of Illinois won his only start against Texas this year, limiting the Rangers to one run and six hits over seven innings on May 5. Happ has posted a 4.82 ERA in eight career postseason games, including one start at Colorado on Oct. 11, 2009 in which he yielded three runs and five hits over three frames while with Philadelphia.

• Darvish finished his injury-plagued campaign strong, allowing fewer than two runs in three of his final four outings – including a six-inning victory over Tampa Bay in his final start on Sept. 30 in which he gave up one run and three hits while registering a season-high 12 strikeouts. The 30-year-old from Japan is 3-2 with a 2.45 ERA in seven career turns against the Blue Jays but did not face them this year. Darvish lost the only previous postseason start, yielding three runs – two earned – and five hits over 6 2/3 innings in the 2012 AL Wild-Card Game versus Baltimore.

• The Rangers are an astounding 1-10 all-time at home in the ALDS.

• Closer and RHP Roberto Osuna is on Toronto’s ALDS roster, but his availability is unknown after he left the Wild-Card Game with a shoulder injury.

• Andrus is halfway toward his hit total in the ALDS last year, when he went 4-for-22.

StreakSmarts Pick: Toronto Blue Jays

Confidence: 5/10

Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Previous Pick
Next Pick