GDT - Rangers vs Blue Jays (Game 4) 7:07pm

[West Texas Forever]

I will be going to this game and sitting behind the Jays dugout and hoping for another win from our Jays, I am 2-5 on the season on games I attend so my record is climbing.

 

 

Texas:

Derek Holland

3-1 with a 2.48 ERA

 

1. Rougned Odor (L) 2B

2. Nomar Mazara (L) RF

3. Adrian Beltre ® 3B

4. Prince Fielder (L) DH

5. Ian Desmond ® CF

6. Mitch Moreland (L) 1B

7. Ryan Rua ® LF

8. Bryan Holaday ® C

9. Hanser Alberto ® SS

 

 

 

Blue Jays:

J.A. Happ

3-0 with a 2.76 ERA

 

1. Kevin Pillar ® CF

2. Josh Donaldson ® 3B

3. Jose Bautista ® RF

4. Edwin Encarnacion ® DH

5. Justin Smoak (S) 1B

6. Troy Tulowitzki ® SS

7. Russell Martin ® C

8. Darwin Barney ® 2B

9. Ezequiel Carrera (L) LF

 

 

The Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers seem to be incapable of playing games that don’t include dramatic moments in the late innings. The Blue Jays will try to follow up their American League Division Series victory over the Rangers last fall with a series win in their first 2016 meeting when they host the finale of a four-game set on Thursday.

 

Texas took the opener of the series when Nomar Mazara bashed a go-ahead solo home run in the eighth inning on Monday and threw a runner out at the plate in the bottom of the frame, but it has been Toronto getting the key late hits in the last two contests. Justin Smoak hit a tying home run in the ninth on Tuesday and a walk-off blast in the 10th, and Edwin Encarnacion tied it with a two-run blast in the sixth inning on Wednesday before Russell Martin’s walk-off single capped the 4-3 win. The win made the Blue Jays 4-2 in their last six games, and the pitching staff is surrendering an average of two runs in that span. The Rangers scored an average of six runs in the five games prior to visiting Toronto but have totaled six in the first three games of the series.

 

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Southwest (Texas), Sportsnet One (Toronto)

 

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Derek Holland (3-1, 2.48 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH J.A. Happ (3-0, 2.76)

 

Holland has yet to allow more than three runs in a start and cruised through six scoreless innings in a win over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday. The 29-year-old only registered one strikeout in the outing but did not walk a batter in his second scoreless start of the season. Holland is 3-2 with a 5.15 ERA in eight career regular-season games against Toronto and was lit up for six runs – three homers – in two innings against the Blue Jays last postseason.

 

Happ has recorded a quality start in each of his first five outings but could not get enough run support to pull out a win at Tampa Bay on Saturday. The Northwestern product surrendered three runs on six hits and three walks in 6 2/3 innings but did not factor in the decision in a 4-3 loss. Happ, who was not part of the team during the run to the playoffs last season, is 2-2 with a 3.63 ERA in four career starts against the Rangers.

 

WALK-OFFS

 

1. Blue Jays SS Troy Tulowitzki is 2-for-29 in the last eight games, dropping his batting average to .160.

 

2. Texas optioned C Brett Nicholas to Triple-A Round Rock and traded C Chris Gimenez to Cleveland for cash considerations.

 

3. Smoak is 6-for-11 in the series with his first two homers of the season and three RBIs.

[Trouba95]

Let's go Blue Birds. Win the series!

[jays4life19]

Both lineups in the GDT? Atta girl!

[Laika]

Zeke getting an uncomfortable amount of playing time right now

 

don't really like RHB Smoak hitting over Tulo

[Daniel Labude]

Lets Go Blue Jays!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

The breakout game is near!!!!!!!!

[Pendleton]

Destroy them!

[Dylan]

Lets see how pillar does tonight as lead off

[Terminator]

Zeke getting an uncomfortable amount of playing time right now

 

don't really like RHB Smoak hitting over Tulo

 

At least he's not leading off tonight.

[IBTrini]

Lets see how pillar does tonight as lead off

Not a fan of this. Hope it doesn't mess with his head and send him spiralling backwards.

[John_Havok]

Not sure of the logic of starting Carrera over Saunders when they are both lefties... but maybe they just want to Saunders' knee/hammy extra rest when they are at home on the turf.

[Muck Bartinez]

Not sure of the logic of starting Carrera over Saunders when they are both lefties... but maybe they just want to Saunders' knee/hammy extra rest when they are at home on the turf.

 

It would be some f***ing nice (and very easy) to have a 4th OF that was a RHH for situations exactly like this.

[KinofChaos]

Lets win this series , get back to .500 and go on a little run.

[West Texas Forever]

Hopefully we see a bunch of bangers tonight.

[KinofChaos]

Hopefully we see a bunch of bangers tonight.

 

I'll "Bangher", get it? Yeah terrible joke.

[KinofChaos]

I don't understand why Pompey is not up over Carerra? With Saunders getting rest regularily he would get quite a bit of reps.

[closetjaysfan]

I like Pillar leading off here but he shouldnt stay there when Saunders gets back. On the other hand, Smoak could probably fill in nicely with the way he has been playing. You could argue that Barney could fill in nicely too (keeping his 15 pitch AB the other night in mind). f***... now im not sure who should be there.

[Pendleton]

Hopefully we see a bunch of bangers tonight.

 

Give em the beans n mash!

[KingKat]

I don't understand why Pompey is not up over Carerra? With Saunders getting rest regularily he would get quite a bit of reps.

 

Would basically start for one of Smoak or Saunders against every LHP and do a fair amount of pinch running, pinch hitting and spot duty on the side.

[KinofChaos]

Would basically start for one of Smoak or Saunders against every LHP and do a fair amount of pinch running, pinch hitting and spot duty on the side.

 

Yep, plus regular days off the Saunders and other outfielders as well

[burlingtonbandit]

I don't understand why Pompey is not up over Carerra? With Saunders getting rest regularily he would get quite a bit of reps.

 

Because he hasn't been good this year and still needs to improve in the minors? His wRC+ is 86 which is pretty bad considering he's in AAA. He's also been hurt with a foot injury that seems to be lingering.

[KinofChaos]

Because he hasn't been good this year and still needs to improve in the minors? His wRC+ is 86 which is pretty bad considering he's in AAA. He's also been hurt with a foot injury that seems to be lingering.

 

Oh didn't know that, what about Cicilani?

[KingKat]

Oh didn't know that, what about Cicilani?

 

Injured as well.

[JaysAllMighty]

Cheers to all of you and our Jays for a great game and hopefully a win!

 

[KinofChaos]

Injured as well.

 

f***, depth sucks.

[Daniel Labude]

Because he hasn't been good this year and still needs to improve in the minors? His wRC+ is 86 which is pretty bad considering he's in AAA. He's also been hurt with a foot injury that seems to be lingering.

 

Yes 11 games is enough to make an impact decision on how well he would do back in the majors.

[Praxis]

Let's see how long the site holds up tonight.

[IBTrini]

I like Pillar leading off here but he shouldnt stay there when Saunders gets back. On the other hand, Smoak could probably fill in nicely with the way he has been playing. You could argue that Barney could fill in nicely too (keeping his 15 pitch AB the other night in mind). f***... now im not sure who should be there.

It's only a temporary situation so any of those could be inserted there. Well, we will see how it goes cuz when I dislike something with a move it normally proves me wrong.

[KinofChaos]

Jays have had some awful BABIP luck so far this season.

[burlingtonbandit]

Thought Barney could have given it a better effort than that.

[Praxis]

I think Happ is my favourite story of the season so far. He's really improved since his last stint with us (thank you Pirates) and is now a bona fide major league 3 or 4.