Sep 21, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher David Price (14) throws a pitch during the first inning in a game against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
The pitching matchup for Thursday’s American League Division Series opener between the Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers can be viewed in different ways.
In one respect, Toronto ace David Price has a definite edge over Texas starter Yovani Gallardo.
Price is a Cy Young Award candidate after going 18-5 with 2.45 ERA this season. He has been even better since being acquired from the Detroit Tigers in a midseason trade. Price is 9-1 with 2.30 ERA for the Blue Jays.
Gallardo had a solid season, but his 13-11 record and 3.42 ERA don’t measure up to Price’s numbers.
However, if you put specific statistics under a microscope, the picture is clearer.
Price is just 1-5 with a 4.50 ERA in his 10 playoff appearances, which include five starts.
Asked Wednesday what the difference is regarding pitching in the postseason relative to the regular season, Price said, “Nothing. I mean, I’ve got to treat it the same as every other game, just go out there and make pitches and let our defense play defense. Put up some early zeros, let our offense settle in, go out there and get that lead.”
Toronto manager John Gibbons said he is not concerned with Price’s past postseason issues.
“I don’t give that any thought at all,” he said. “I know how good he is.”
In his only game against Texas this season, Price gave up two runs in six innings and got the win.
Meanwhile, Gallardo has dominated the Blue Jays powerful lineup. In his two starts against Toronto this season – one coming July 27 and the other August 27 — Gallardo pitched 13 2/3 innings, yielding no runs and six hits in two victories.
“I think we’ve come up with a good game plan, just being aggressive,” Gallardo said. “Obviously they have a good lineup, a powerful lineup with what they did throughout the year.”
Texas manager Jeff Banister did not provide any explanation for Gallardo’s success against the Blue Jays.
“Well, if I gave away all my secrets you would be helping them out,” Banister said. “It’s like any other ballclub, you execute pitches that you have a greater chance of success. Yovani is a veteran pitcher who’s not going to give in, who could throw strikes. One thing that you can’t do really is sit on any one pitch.”
Gallardo is going up a potent Toronto attack that led the American League in runs and home runs and was second in batting average. Third baseman Josh Donaldson led the team in homers, and ranked third in the American League with 41, and Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion were right behind with 40 and 39 homers, respectively.
Of course, Texas has its share of offensive weapons, which helped the Rangers finish third in the AL in runs scored. Prince Fielder and Mitch Moreland led the Rangers in homers with 23 apiece, and Fielder also hit .305.
Like the Blue Jays, the Rangers built their playoff roster by acquiring foundation pieces via trade, including Fielder and left-handed pitcher Cole Hamels, players who changed the energy and dynamics of the Rangers’ clubhouse.
“I think it’s full of energy, belief, confidence, but yet they’re the ones that aren’t being given a chance,” Banister said. “I also think that there’s a little different edge and I thank you all.”
The Rangers’ team perception is that the majority of observers view the Blue Jays as the better team and likely the favorite in the division series. It’s worth noting that both teams played their best baseball in the second half of the season.
At the end of play on July 28, the Blue Jays were in fourth place, eight games out of first in the American League East, and the third-place Rangers were also eight games out in the AL West.
In Game Two on Friday, the Blue Jays will start Marcus Stroman and against Hamels. Stroman pitched in only four games this season, but is 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA.
