MLB Baseball Predictions: Texas Rangers vs Toronto Blue Jays

Tuesday, May 01, 2012

by Mike Stewart

After dropping two of three to one American League East team over the weekend, the major-league best Texas Rangers are determined not to suffer the same fate at the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Rangers were missing Josh Hamilton because of a sore back on Monday but still got a pair of home runs in a 4-1 victory over the Blue Jays.

Toronto’s main slugger, Jose Bautista, is in the midst of a lengthy slump but Edwin Encarnacion is making a bid to take his place with a home run in each of the last four games.

- Texas Rangers vs Toronto Blue Jays
When: 7:07 PM ET, Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Where: Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
TV: FS Southwest (Texas), RSN (Toronto)

The Texas have opened as 140-moneyline favorites on Wager Web Sportsbook’s Live MLB Baseball Odds.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Neftali Feliz (1-1, 3.00 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Drew Hutchison (1-0, 6.10 ERA)

Texas struggled against the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend but began its 10-game, 11-day road trip with a win behind Yu Darvish on Monday. Texas leads the AL in most team pitching and hitting categories. The Blue Jays are a strong team as well when everything breaks right. Bautista went 0-for-4 with a strikeout Monday, dropping his average to .181. He has not had a multi-hit game since opening day.

Feliz had his last turn skipped as Texas attempts to keep his innings count low. The right-hander, who turns 24 on Wednesday, has yet to allow more than three runs in a start but did issue four walks over eight innings in a loss at Detroit on Apr. 21. Feliz has made five career relief appearances against Toronto, surrendering one run and two hits while striking out 10 over 5 1/3 total innings.

Hutchison will be making his third career start. The 21-year-old Florida native allowed two runs over five innings in a no decision at Baltimore last week. Hutchison cruised through three minor league levels last season and was plucked out of the Double A rotation two weeks ago.

1. Hamilton was available as a pinch hitter on Monday and is day-to-day.

2. Encarnacion’s eight home runs puts him one behind Hamilton’s nine for the American League lead.

3. The Blue Jays have turned a major league-high 31 double plays.

MLB BASEBALL PREDICTION: Texas 5, Toronto 4

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drew hutchison - edwin encarnacion - jose bautista - josh hamilton - neftali feliz - rogers centre - texas rangers - toronto blue jays - yu darvish