Toronto Blue Jays (10-12) at Texas Rangers (14-8) Game 2 Preview

The Rangers weren’t able to hold off the Blue Jays last night but tonight is another night and is the night for the second game of the four-game series beind held at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington so long as the weather allows the game to fully be played as there are some serious storms around the DFW area.

Michael Young heads into this game with a 15-game hitting streak and is currently batting a .363, which is the highest of his team. Adrian Beltre is leading the Rangers in homeruns with 7, RBIs with 20 and runs with 15 and Mitch Moreland has the best OPS at .912.

Pitching matchups, pitchers vs. hitters and team lineups after the jump…

Pitching Matchups

The Rangers will place LHP Matt Harrison on the mound. Harrison is 3-1 with a very impressive 1.88 ERA for the season. Harrison is one who has shocked us all so far this season and will make his fifth start tonight. His last time out, he allowed three runs on four hits over 6.2 innings along with five strikesouts and three walks. The Angels (Jered Weaver started) won 4-1. Despite losing one of his four games as a starter, all four starts have been quality starts. Harrison has went up against Toronto twice, one being a start, at Rogers Centre and has a 9.00 ERA. This will be the first time at Arlington Harrison will meet the Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays with counter with RHP Jesse Litsch. After being sent down due to Brandon Morrow‘s return last week, Litsch was recalled from AAA Las Vegas on Friday after throwing 44 pitches over three innings. He was pulled from that game just in case the club needed him to pitch tonight, which they did. He’ll be pitching on just three days’ rest. He is 1-0 with an earned run average of 5.06 against Texas over 12.2 innings. He allowed six runs, four earned, on seven hits against the Boston Red Sox on April 17 – a game in which Toronto lost.

Pitchers vs. Hitters

LHP Matt Harrison: Jose Bautista is 2-for-3, Adam Lind is 0-for-3, Juan Rivera is 1-for-2 with a home run and one RBI.

RHP Jesse Litsch:  Adrian Beltre is 3-for-10 with one home run and two RBIs, Ian Kinsler is 1-for-2, David Murphy is 1-for-5 and Michael Young is 0-for-6.

Rangers Lineup

Mitch Moreland gets a day off after 15 straight games while Chris Davis takes his place in the infield.

2B Ian Kinsler
SS Elvis Andrus
DH Michael Young
3B Adrian Beltre
RF Nelson Cruz
LF David Murphy
C Yorvit Torrealba
1B Chris Davis
CF Julio Borbon

Blue Jays Lineup

SS Yunel Escobar
CF Corey Patterson
RF Jose Bautista
1B Adam Lind
DH Juan Rivera
C J.P. Arencibia
LF Travis Snider 
2B John McDonald
3B Mike McCoy