Pitchers are creatures of habit, especially for someone as methodical as Toronto Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt.
And Bassitt has certainly made a habit of winning at home, having gone 8-0 at the Rogers Centre this season.
That streak will be on the line when the Blue Jays (71-51) host the Texas Rangers to begin a three-game series on Friday. First pitch is set for 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT.
A home start may be exactly what Bassitt (11-6, 4.18 ERA) needs while amid a three-game losing streak, his longest of the season.
The Rangers (61-61) are one of the worst teams on the road, with a 24-35 record, and have lost five of their last seven away from Globe Life Field. Texas hasn’t won a road series since taking two of three from the Houston Astros on July 13.
Jacob deGrom (10-5, 2.86 ERA) will hope to snap his own three-game losing streak when he takes the mound for the Rangers. Despite his recent struggles, deGrom has enjoyed a resurgence this season. After undergoing Tommy John surgery two years ago, which subsequently shortened his 2024 campaign, deGrom has reclaimed his mantle as one of the best pitchers in the majors. The 37-year-old was named an All-Star this season, his first nod since 2021, and his first as a Ranger.
His last outing resulted in a 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 9, during which he struck out eight batters but gave up three runs through 6.2 innings. Even with the loss, deGrom finally kept the ball inside the park after giving up a homer in his previous six starts, a career-worst for the 12-year veteran.
Toronto’s own all-star, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., will likely provide a true test for deGrom after hitting another blast in the Blue Jays’ 2-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. Guerrero’s two-run shot in the seventh inning was the type of play a superstar is expected to make in tightly contested games normally reserved for October.
While the Blue Jays rank first in batting average and hits, the team continues to keep a close eye on George Springer, who was responsible for a large portion of the team’s offence earlier in the season. The veteran was recently cleared from a concussion and played in a rehab game with the Buffalo Bisons on Thursday.
The Blue Jays are tied with the Detroit Tigers for the most wins (71) in the American League and hold a five-game lead over the Boston Red Sox in the AL East.
The Rangers trail the New York Yankees by 3.5 games for the last American League wild-card spot.
