Series Preview: Toronto Blue Jays look to get above .500 vs the Texas Rangers

The series kicks off at 4:05pm ET this afternoon, neither the Blue Jays nor the Rangers are having the season they were hoping for so far. Both clubs are three games back in the AL Wild Card race.

A big series for either side could put them back into the thick of the playoff conversation, however if either club struggles in this series they could quickly find themselves falling even further back in the standings.

The Blue Jays are aiming to bounce back after a three-game sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays, capped with a 13-0 rout Sunday.

Toronto's bats were limited to four hits and were shut out for the third time this season. It was also the third-largest road shutout margin of defeat in franchise history, according to Sportsnet Stats.

The Blue Jays dropped to a 25-27 record and are seven games back of the division-leading New York Yankees.

Gausman holds a 4-4 record and 4.03 ERA this season. He is coming off a strong start last Wednesday against the San Diego Padres, pitching seven shutout innings in a 14-0 victory. Gausman recorded nine strikeouts while giving up only three hits.

The Rangers will counter with ace Jacob deGrom on the mound. The two-time Cy Young Award winner has a 4-1 record and 2.33 ERA this season.

Bowden Francis (5.54 ERA) will look to turn his season around for the Jays tomorrow against Nathan Eovaldi (1.60 ERA), who has put himself into the early AL Cy Young discussion.

The series will wrap Wednesday with an as-of-yet unannounced starter on the mound for the Jays against Rangers right-hander Tyler Mahle, who has a 1.80 ERA in 11 starts amid his own brilliant campaign.

Watch the game live on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ starting at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.