April 10, 2022 - Game 3
Television and Radio Listings for Today's Game
Rangers TV: Bally Sports Southwest
Rangers Radio: 105.3 The Fan (English); KFLC 1270 (Spanish)
Blue Jays TV: Sportsnet
Blue Jays Radio: SN590
National: MLB Network (in select markets)
Overview
The Rangers turn to their July acquisition, Spencer Howard, to salvage a game in the Opening series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Texas is looking to avoid going 0-3 for the first time in five years as they will take on a familiar foe for Chris Woodward and Corey Seager, Hyun Jin Ryu. The 2021 season for Howard was not what he and the club envisioned, but Spencer told me he worked on the mental side this past offseason and didn't mind the shortened Spring Training. With Dane Dunning throwing 74 pitches and Jon Gray's target around the mid-80s (halted because of the blister), the workload for Spencer this afternoon is likely less than that. Expect either Kolby Allard or Brock Burke to make their 2022 debuts this afternoon in Toronto.
The offense scored eleven runs in two games which is top-ten in MLB, but the Rangers have scored in five of eighteen innings, three of those innings with three runs or more. Early in the first two games, I'm noticing that the game plan against the starters is well-executed. The Rangers' bats put pressure on the starting pitcher, work the count, and are aggressive when needed. However, the Texas offense hasn't had an answer for the Blue Jays bullpen since the second inning of Friday's game. In 2021, both the Rangers and Blue Jays were middle of the pack in bullpen ERA, while the Rangers' pen allowed seven runs in two games to Toronto's four. So again, it's a mix and match determining matchups against a strong-suit Blue Jays team. Can the Rangers squeak their first win on the road against the Blue Jays in six games?
Pregame Notables
Spencer Howard is making his second career start against the Blue Jays. On August 20, 2010, Howard went 3.2 innings and allowed five hits, one run, two walks, and five strikeouts. Phillies. Santiago Espinal's lone run was a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning.
Spencer Howard's five strikeouts on 8/20/2010 are tied for a career-high (9/12/2010 at MIA and 5/22/2021 vs. BOS). Both those games were with the
Hyun Jin Ryu made two starts against the Rangers last year. Ryu threw seven innings in both outings (his second start was a seven-inning doubleheader game which qualified as a complete game). He allowed two runs total with one walk and eleven strikeouts.
The 1.29 ERA in 2021 for Ryu against the Rangers was the lowest ERA against any team with two or more stars.
After Saturday's loss, the Rangers have dropped the opening series in five of the last six seasons. The only series in that span they won was in 2019 against the Cubs.
The Rangers are ninth in MLB with eleven runs scored. Of the nine, four teams ahead of Texas (Cardinals, Cubs, Blue Jays, and Phillies) played two games, while the other five who scored more runs played three games.
Corey Seager joins Lance Berkman (2013) and Vladimir Guerrero (2010), who racked up multi-hit games in their first two games as Texas Rangers.
This weekend, the Rangers bullpen has allowed the second-most runs (7) in MLB while throwing the third-fewest innings (4).
Lineups
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