Blue Jays at Rangers
Moving down in the batting order seems to agree with Texas Rangers first baseman Joey Gallo, who snapped out of an early-season slump with a key two-run double Saturday. Gallo figures to be in the fifth spot in the order again Sunday as the Rangers face the visiting Toronto Blue Jays in the rubber match of a three-game series.
After batting second and hitting .184 in his first nine games of the season, Gallo drew two walks and scored twice while batting fifth in Saturday’s 5-1 win over the Blue Jays. “This was a case of me thinking, maybe we can back off the flame a little bit right now and allow Joey to get in more of a comfort zone," manager Jeff Banister told reporters. The frigid weather in Arlington took its toll on the Blue Jays, who were limited to two hits and saw Josh Donaldson and Justin Smoak go hitless in seven at-bats with five strikeouts. Toronto shortstop Aledmys Diaz returned after missing two games due to back spasms and went 0-for-3, while left fielder Steve Pearce belted his first home run of the young season.
TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Jaime Garcia (0-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Cole Hamels (1-1, 3.38)
Making his first start for the Blue Jays, Garcia tossed six innings of one-run ball against the Chicago White Sox last Monday and drew high praise from catcher Russell Martin. “He has nasty stuff,” Martin told reporters. “When he’s able to command the strike zone and get some early strikes, it’s really tough on those hitters.” The 31-year-old is facing Texas for the first time after spending the majority of his career with St. Louis, where he went 62-45 in eight injury-plagued seasons.
Hamels bounced back from an Opening Day loss to Houston by allowing one run with 11 strikeouts over five innings in Tuesday’s 4-1 win at Oakland. The 34-year-old native of San Diego has seen his velocity drop in his first two starts, causing him to rely more on changeups and sliders. Hamels is 0-2 with a 6.97 ERA in four career starts against Toronto but owns a 17-5 record in 36 career outings at Globe Life Park, including 7-2 in 12 starts last season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto is 23-12 against the Rangers since the start of the 2013 season.
2. Texas 3B Adrian Beltre is expected to return to the starting lineup Sunday after being held out Saturday due in part to the cold weather.
3. Blue Jays closer RHP Roberto Osuna has not allowed a run in his last nine games dating back to last season.