Starting pair usually good for very little

There’s a good reason the Texas Rangers are giving Yovani Gallardo the ball for Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

He’s one of the few pitchers in 2015 who has shut their prolific offense down. Gallardo didn’t allow a run in 13  2/3 innings against the Blue Jays this season, including a three-hit 8  1/3 inning outing in Toronto on June 27, his best start of the season and last one longer than six innings. When he’s on, his pitches break away from the Blue Jays’ big, right-handed power hitters — Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion — who have combined to hit 120 homers this season.

Left-hander David Price, who has gone 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA since being traded from Detroit on July 30, held the Rangers to two runs on five hits and struck out eight in six innings on Aug. 26, his lone appearance against Texas this season.

“He throws 98 [mph], a couple off-speed pitches, hits his spots,” said Rangers designated hitter Prince Fielder, who is 2 for 12 lifetime against Price. “You know, the usual Cy Young stuff. He doesn’t mess around too much. He comes after hitters. He’s not afraid of contact.”

This story was originally published October 7, 2015 at 6:15 PM with the headline "Starting pair usually good for very little."