Rangers vs Blue Jays: Starting Lineup - Series Opener Preview
Photo credit: https://torontosun.com/
The Toronto Blue Jays take on the Texas Rangers in the first matchup of a three-game set at Rogers Centre.
Blue Jays veteran Chris Bassitt is on the bump versus Rangers ace Jacob deGrom tonight in game two. First pitch is at 7:07 PM exclusively on AppleTV and Sportsnet 590 the Fan radio.
Toronto Blue Jays Starting Lineup
1. RF Nathan Lukes
2. SS Bo Bichette
3. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr
5. DH Addison Barger
5. CF Daulton Varsho
7. C Alejandro Kirk
8. LF Joey Loperfido
8. 3B Ernie Clement
9 2B Andres Gimenez
SP Chris Bassitt
2. SS Bo Bichette
3. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr
5. DH Addison Barger
5. CF Daulton Varsho
7. C Alejandro Kirk
8. LF Joey Loperfido
8. 3B Ernie Clement
9 2B Andres Gimenez
SP Chris Bassitt
Blue Jays key players to watch
The Blue Jays will send Chris Bassitt (11-6) to the mound for his 25th start this season.
The right-hander gave up three earned runs and allowed six hits in 4 2/3 innings pitched against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.
The 36-year-old has pitched in 25 games this season with an ERA of 4.17 and 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings, with an opponent batting average of .268.
Guerrero paces the Blue Jays with 20 home runs while putting up a team-best batting average of .300.
Bo Bichette's leads all of baseball with 148 hits, 78 runs batted in lead his team.
Ernie Clement is batting .283 with 23 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 21 walks.
Rangers key players to watch
Rangers ace Jacob deGrom (10-5) gets the ball for his 24th start of the season. He is 10-5 with a 2.86 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 135 1/3 innings pitched.
In his last time out on Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies, the right-hander threw 6 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs while surrendering six hits.
In 23 games this season, the 37-year-old has put up an ERA of 2.86, with 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Opponents are hitting .200 against him.
Semien is batting .222 with 13 home runs and 58 RBI for Texas this season.
Corey Seager's 17 home runs are most among Texas batters. He's driven in 43 runs this season while slugging .461.
Josh Smith is batting .268 to lead Texas, while adding nine homers and 30 runs batted in this season.
