The Texas Rangers will be a desperate team when they visit the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night for the opener of a three-game series.
The Rangers have lost six of their last seven games to leave them at .500 and 3 1/2 games removed from an American League wild-card spot.
They had Thursday off after a 6-4 loss at home to the Arizona Diamondbacks — a game the Rangers led 4-2 with two outs and none on in the ninth inning. James McCann hit a solo homer and three batters later Ketel Marte hit a three-run blast to give Arizona the rubber match of a three-game series and a 3-6 homestand for Texas.
“It’s obviously not where we wanted to end this homestand,” said first baseman Jake Burger, who hit a two-run homer on Wednesday. “For us it is having that sense of urgency to realize where we are in the standings and the race. It’s go time for us.”
The Rangers have had offensive problems for much of the season.
“It has to come from within,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “We have to find a way and keep things moving.”
The Rangers dropped two of the three at home to the Blue Jays on May 26-28. Pitching dominated the series with Toronto outscoring Texas 4-3 over the three games.
The Rangers are on the road for the next seven games. They will need to improve on their 24-35 road record to keep a playoff spot within sight.
“There’s baseball left,” Bochy said. “We’ve got to win games. We’ve got to win on the road.”
The Blue Jays are 2-1 halfway through their six-game homestand after defeating the Chicago Cubs 2-1 on Thursday.
They continued their success at home where they are 40-20 as opposed to 31-31 on the road.
Playing at home has helped Toronto’s scheduled starter for Friday, Chris Bassitt (11-6, 4.17 ERA). The right-hander is 8-0 with a 2.56 ERA in 13 starts at home this season. He is 5-3 with a 3.66 ERA in 16 career games (12 starts) against the Rangers.
Texas right-hander Jacob deGrom (10-5, 2.86) will face the Blue Jays for the second time this season. He took the loss on May 26 when he allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings. In two career starts against Toronto, he is 1-1 with a 2.38 ERA. He has lost each of his last three starts overall, going 0-3 and sporting a 6.88 ERA.
The Blue Jays could have George Springer (concussion) back in the lineup at some time during the series.
“He’s been right in the middle of everything this year,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “Not just with his performance, but with what we are doing on the bases and with what the dugout feels like. Things like that.”
Springer was 1-for-2 with a double and a walk as designated hitter for Triple-A Buffalo to start his rehabilitation assignment on Thursday. He said he is not sure what the next step will be.
“We’re going to see what they say,” Springer said. “I’m just going to do what I’m told. I understand that there’s a plan and a process that has to be followed.”
In winning the rubber match from the Cubs on Thursday, Max Scherzer allowed one run in seven-plus innings and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a two-run home run in the seventh.
“I just kept telling myself we’re not going to lose this game 1-0,” Scherzer said. “I’m not losing this game on the solo shot. Somebody’s going to come through for us. I just kept repeating that in my head. And, finally, Vladdy.”
–Field Level Media
