A year later, Rangers have edge on Blue Jays
Breaking down the Rangers-Blue Jays ALDS: Lineup
A year ago, the Blue Jays were given the edge here and it wasn’t really close. They still have their trio of sluggers in Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista and Josh Donaldson, who combined to hit 101 of the Jays’ 221 homers, fourth-most in the league. A year ago, the Jays led the lead with 232, 60 more than the Rangers. But the Rangers have closed that gap considerably in ’16. Texas finished seventh in the league with 215 and that doesn’t count the homers Carlos Beltran and Jonathan Lucroy hit before joining the club. The Rangers hit for a higher average (.262 to .248), scored more runs, had more hits and struck out 100 fewer times than the Jays.
Edge: Rangers
Bench
Of all the categories this is the murkiest of the bunch. The Rangers are likely to have Ryan Rua, Jurickson Profar and Nomar Mazara, along with catcher Robinson Chirinos. Jurickson Profar is the ultimate utility infielder since he can play all four infield spots, in case of injury. That means the Rangers have to decide they’d rather have power-hitting Mazara or speedy Delino DeShields available off the bench. Perhaps they go with a seven-man bullpen and keep both. The Blue Jays have former Rangers prospect Justin Smoak, who had 14 homers and 34 RBIs and Melvin Upton, Jr., who had 20 homers and 27 stolen bases.
Edge: Rangers
Bullpen
Both bullpens rank near the bottom of the AL in ERA, but that’s not a true indication of their talent. The Rangers’ bullpen, at times a source of concern in 2016, has been exceptional the last month of the season. They put together a club record stretch of 35 1/3 scoreless innings and collected a league-high 41 wins, including 18-2 over the Rangers’ final 57 games, and had 56 saves, a club record. Toronto’s closer Roberto Osuna, 21, had 36 saves with 2.68 ERA in 74 innings and leads a pen stocked with live arms, including lefty Brett Cecil and right-handers Jason Grilli and Joe Biagini.
Edge: Rangers
Rotation
The Rangers didn’t have Yu Darvish a year ago and the Blue Jays no longer have ace David Price. Those two roster alterations could loom large. But the Jays still have four salty starters, including Marco Estrada (9-9, 3.48 ERA), who will pitch Game 1 and lefty J.A. Happ (20-4, 3.18), who is set to start Game 2. Right-hander Aaron Sanchez (15-2, 3.00) will start Game 3. The Rangers counter with lefty Cole Hamels, who has the most postseason experience of any pitcher in the series, and Darvish in Game 2. It’s the second postseason start for Darvish (7-5, 3.41), who pitched the 2013 wild-card game. Colby Lewis and Martin Perez are likely to round out the Rangers’ rotation, although their starters for Games 3 and 4 have yet to be announced. If Lewis and Perez pitch as they did early in ’16, the Rangers will be in good shape. If not, the Jays have the edge.
Edge: Blue Jays
Managers
Texas manager Jeff Banister has guided his club to AL West titles in his first two seasons and is in the running for consecutive manager of the year honors. John Gibbons is in his ninth season season with Toronto. He’s been ejected eight times this season compared with Banister’s two. Both were ejected five times in 2015.
Edge: Rangers
Intangibles
The Rangers are a team almost built on intangibles if you consider their one-run wins (36-11) and comebacks (49), both major-league highs. Although the Rangers have multiple young players in starring roles, they have an abundance of experienced veterans, including Adrian Beltre, Carlos Beltran and Jonathan Lucroy. If revenge is a motivator, and both clubs dismiss the notion, both dugouts have plenty of inspiration. The Rangers would love to settle the score from their 2015 ALDS defeat after a devastating Game 5 loss in Toronto they let slip away with three errors in the seventh inning. The Blue Jays took it on the chin, literally, Jose Bautista’s left jaw, the last time the clubs played when Rougned Odor punched Bautista on May 15, resulting in a benches’ clearing brawl. But that’s all in the past, the players say. Yeah, right.
Edge: Rangers
Stefan Stevenson: 817-390-7760, @StevensonFWST
This story was originally published October 5, 2016 at 8:43 PM with the headline "A year later, Rangers have edge on Blue Jays."