Texas Rangers face Toronto Blue Jays in ALDS

The Texas Rangers and the Toronto Blue Jays will be squaring off in the ALDS, with Game 1 being in Arlington on Thursday, October 6.

The Jays beat the Orioles, 5-2, on an 11th inning Edwin Encarnacion walkoff home run against Ubaldo Jimenez, while Cy Young Award candidate Zach Britton ended up not even getting into the game for Baltimore, Buck Showalter apparently deciding he needed to preserve him for a save opportunity that never arose.

And so we have a re-match of last year’s remarkable five game playoff series, and the Jays and Rangers facing each other for the first time since the infamous Rougned Odor/Jose Bautista punchout game earlier this year.

Toronto has an impressive offense, but is missing reliever Joaquin Benoit, who suffered a strained calf muscle while running out of the bullpen during a brawl in late September. In addition, Jays closer Roberto Osuna was lifted today with what looked like a possible elbow injury, which could further impact the strength of their pen.

This should be interesting, folks...