Aug 8, 2019; Toronto, Ontario, CAN;Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (11) hits an RBI double during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre. Photo Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
When the Texas Rangers visit the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night to open a three-game series, each team will be coming off a 1-0 game.
The difference is that the Rangers won their one-run decision over the Brewers at Milwaukee Sunday and the Blue Jays lost theirs to the visiting New York Yankees.
The Rangers and Blue Jays also have played a 1-0 game against each other this season, with Toronto prevailing in 12 innings May 3 at Arlington, Tex.
The losing pitcher in that game was right-hander Ariel Jurado, who entered the game in the 12th and made a throwing error that resulted in the only run of the game.
Jurado (6-7, 4.74 ERA) will make his second career appearance against the Blue Jays when he starts Monday. The 23-year-old will be facing right-hander Neil Ramirez (0-1, 5.40) who will serve as an opener in his first appearance for Toronto.
Ramirez was added to the Blue Jays major-league roster Sunday after they signed him to a minor-league contract following his release by the Cleveland Indians. He made 16 relief appearances this season for Cleveland. The Blue Jays sent right-hander Jason Adam to Triple-A Buffalo to open a spot on the 25-man roster. Left-hander Ryan Borucki (elbow inflammation) was transferred to the 60-day injured list to create room on the 40-man roster.
Ramirez is 0-0 with a 10.80 ERA in four career relief outings (five innings) against the Rangers.
The Rangers won the final two games of their three-game home series against the Blue Jays in May.
The Rangers are 2-4 on a road trip that ends with the series in Toronto, where the Blue Jays split their four-game series against the Yankees.
The Rangers had four hits in their win at Milwaukee on Sunday, their sixth consecutive game with six or fewer hits, matching the team’s longest streak set in 1972.
“We’re not doing a lot offensively,” Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. “We’ve got to really dig in on every pitch. We’ve got to capitalize on every opportunity. Guys are either trying to do too much or they are being too passive.”
Woodward played 362 games for the Blue Jays from 1999-2004 and in 2011.
The Blue Jays are 23 games below .500 but are 20-20 over their past 40 games.
“Our pitching has been pretty good, that’s the key,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. “Because our hitters have been swinging the bats well for about a month.”
The Blue Jays have been getting good production from their young hitters. Bo Bichette had gone hitless in two games since opening his career on an 11-game hit streak but was 2-for-4 Sunday and has reached base safely in all of his 14 major league games.
Another young hitter, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., appeared only as a pinch hitter Sunday, but his 13-pitch at-bat against Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman earned an ovation even after he hit into a double play. Guerrero hit a mammoth foul off the facing of the fifth deck in left field on a 1-2 pitch.
“That at-bat by Vladdy against the best closer in baseball was awesome to watch,” Montoyo said. “(It showed) that he’s good and he’s going to be a star.”
