Rangers-Blue Jays set for long-awaited ALDS rematch

There will be a rematch.

The Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays will meet again in the postseason after the Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 in the 11th inning Tuesday night in the American League wild card game.

The best-of-five ALDS series between the Rangers and Blue Jays begins with Game 1 at 3:38 p.m. Thursday at Globe Life Park.

“In the end we have to win three games,” Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus said Tuesday afternoon. “Of course, it would always be nice to face the team that beat you the year before and beat them, that would be a lot sweeter.”

Toronto beat Texas in five games a year ago. The Rangers won the first two games in Toronto before the Blue Jays won twice in Arlington and the decisive, controversy laden Game 5 back at the Rogers Centre.

The Blue Jays finished tied for second with the Orioles in the AL East at 89-73. They hosted the wild card game after finishing 10-9 in the regular season with the Orioles. Edwin Encarnacion’s three-run homer gave Toronto a walk-off win.

The Rangers were 3-4 against the Jays in 2016, including 1-3 at Rogers Centre in early May. Tempers flared between the teams during a game in Arlington on May 15. Rangers’ second baseman Rougned Odor objected to a late slide by Jose Bautista in the eighth inning. Odor punched Bautista square in the face, an image the left an indelible mark on the season. Odor was fined and suspended for seven games.

Rangers vs. Blue Jays

(All games will be broadcast on TBS)

Game 1: 3:38 p.m. Thursday, Globe Life Park

Game 2: 12:08 p.m. Friday, Globe Life Park

Game 3: 6:38 p.m. Sunday, at Rogers Centre

Game 4*: TBD Monday, at Rogers Centre

Game 5*: TBD Wednesday, Globe Life Park

* — If necessary

This story was originally published October 4, 2016 at 10:45 PM with the headline "Rangers-Blue Jays set for long-awaited ALDS rematch."