The ALDS starts Thursday. Here’s how the two series break down:
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Texas Rangers
The Blue Jays are the best team in baseball. They may only have the fifth-best record overall, but baseball’s a funny sport—the best team doesn’t always win. Besides, they didn’t have Troy Tulowitzki and David Price until the end of July’s trade deadline. They’re 40–17 since acquiring those two five-time All-Stars.
Texas’s success has flown under the radar a bit. The Rangers were in roughly the same position as Toronto at the trade deadline, with a 50–52 record. They went all-in though acquiring Cole Hamels from Philadelphia and went 38–22 afterwards. Here’s how the teams match up:
Starting Pitching
The Jays boast two of the hotter pitchers in the AL right now with Game 1 starter Price (9–1, 2.30 since arriving) and Marco Estrada (5–2, 2.60 ERA over same time period). R.A. Dickey (6–1, 3.26 ERA also over same time period) has been pretty good himself and second-year starter Marcus Stroman (4–0, 1.67 ERA on the season) has made the most of his four 2015 starts.
Texas counters with Yovani Gollardo (13–11, 3.42 ERA) in Game 1 and Hamels (7–1, 3.66 ERA since arriving) in Game 2. After that, the Rangers have several options, though it appears Derek Holland (4–3, 4.91 ERA) will be the Game 3 starter. Advantage: Toronto
Bullpens
The Rangers bullpen had an ERA of 4.12 this season—sixth-worst in the majors—but boasts closer Shawn Tolleson (35 saves, 2.99 ERA). This unit was gassed by the end of the regular season, but with all the days off in the playoffs there’s not the same issue—unless Toronto’s offense routinely knocks out the starter before the fifth.
Toronto’s young pen finished 12th in the league in ERA at 3.50 and is anchored by 20-year-old closer Roberto Osuna (20 saves, 2.58 ERA). Aaron Sanchez (3.22 ERA, 10 holds) and Brett Cecil (2.48 ERA, 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings) are two of their top options out of the pen—prior to the ninth inning. The lefty Cecil, in particular, hasn’t allowed an earned run since before the All-Star break. Slight advantage: Toronto.
