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The Texas Rangers have the best home record in all of baseball right now, and I do not see any reason for that to change this coming week. The only two losses that they have suffered at home were at the hands of the rival Angels, and as we all know, all bets are off when it comes to rival matchups. This week is not going to be a rival matchup, although the Blue Jays did hand the Rangers their first two home losses in 2010 the first week of the season. This is a 4 game series, and I expect it to be a hard fought series on both sides of the ball. Coming into this series, Toronto has lost 6 out of their last 10 and have an over all record of 9-12. They are not in first place in their division. But anyway, on with the preview!
Monday April 25, 2011 – Lewis (TEX, 1-2, 5.82 ERA) v Drabek (TOR, 1-0, 3.00 ERA)
Drabek has had control issues in his 4 starts so far this season and has a tendency to walk too many batters. Do that in Arlington and you are just asking for trouble. The Rangers have been teeing off on RHP in Arlington so far this season, and I see no reason why that will change here. I expect the likes of Beltre and Young and Kinsler to really have a great game against Drabek, and I expect the Rangers to score a whole lot of runs in this one.
On the other hand, Lewis has been absoultly nothing like the Colby Lewis of the 2010 playoffs, or even like the Lewis of the 2010 season. The really bad news? Lewis has a career 8.39 ERA against the Blue Jays, and we all know that the Jays can jack the ball out of the park all the way through their lineup. Look for Lewis to struggle early and give up some runs. I am hoping that something finally clicks for him at some point in this game and he settles down. I look for this to be a 9-7ish game. Blue Jays win.
Tuesday April 26, 2011 – Harrison (TEX, 3-1, 1.88 ERA) v Litsch (TOR, 1-1, 3.63 ERA)
Harrison has been nothing short of amazing so far this season, and I do not see a reason why that would change. Harry will take down the Jays in this game, and I do not think that this one will be to terribly close. Litsch is pitching on only 4 days rest and I think that will wear him out pretty quick. Look for the Rangers to score early and score often in this game. Rangers 11-3.
Wednesday April 27, 2011 – Holland (TEX, 3-1, 4.39 ERA) v Reyes (TOR, 0-2 6.20)
These are the pitchers that for some reason it seem the Rangers cannot figure out. Look for the Rangers to have trouble early with Reyes. This one will be close for a while, in fact, I believe that this one will be close all the way through. Holland really showed me something in his last outing, and what he showed me was mental toughness. The way he had a really bad inning, and then came back and pitched 3 more great innings tells me he has grown up and he can handle giving up a few runs early, which it is hard not to do to the Blue Jays. Rangers win this one 5-4.
Thursday, April 28, 2011 – Ogando (TEX, 3-0, 2.13 ERA) v. Morrow (0-1, 5.06 ERA)
Like the Yankees, the Jays like to hit a lot of HR’s, and that is the one thing that Ogando has been a little prone to give up this year. Look for the Jays to take this game off of the bull pen, as Ron will probably put in a pitcher after Ogando who will give up some runs. The Rangers are very familiar with Morrow, so they should be able to score some, but I expect the Jays to take it 7-4.
There you have it. Agree? Disagree? let me know!!!
