Texas Rangers Rotation for Huge Blue Jays Series Features Max Scherzer, Nathan Eovaldi

The Texas Rangers set their pitching probables for a critical four-game road series at the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Texas Rangers set their pitching probables for their critical four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays, which starts on Monday at the Rogers Centre.

All four games of the series are set for 6:07 p.m. CT. The Blue Jays (80-63) are second in the AL Wild Card race, while the Rangers (78-64) are a half-game behind the Seattle Mariners (79-64) for the final Wild Card spot.

Rangers right-hander Dane Dunning (9-6, 3.88) is going in the series opener opposite right-hander Chris Bassitt (14-7, 3.69).

Dunning last pitched on Tuesday against the Astros Houston, in relief of Nathan Eovaldi. He threw 5 1/3 innings, giving up 11 hits and nine earned runs. He struck out four and walked two. In his last seven games (six starts), Dunning is 1-2 with a 5.54 ERA.

Bassitt has won his last two starts and went eight innings in each start. He gave up seven hits and one earned run in his last start against Oakland on Tuesday. He also struck out seven and walked none. He is 4-2 with a 3.09 ERA in his last seven starts.

Texas goes with right-hander Max Scherzer (12-6, 3.91) on Tuesday, with Blue Jays sending out left-hander Hyun Jin Ryu (3-2, 2.65).

Scherzer went just three innings in his last start against Houston on Wednesday, giving up six hits and seven earned runs. He struck out four and walked two. In his last seven starts, he has a 3-2 record with a 3.63 ERA. He has struck out 51 and walked 14.

Ryu lost his last start against Oakland on Wednesday, as he went five innings with five hits and two earned runs. He struck out five and walked one. In his last seven starts he is 3-2 with a 2.65 ERA.

The third game Wednesday features Rangers left-hander Jordan Montgomery (8-11, 3.62) against left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (9-5, 3.57).

Montgomery lost his last start on Friday against Oakland, giving up eight hits and five earned runs in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked one. In his last seven starts he is 2-2 with a 4.20 ERA, with 36 strikeouts and eight walks.

Kikuchi took a no-decision against Kansas City on Friday. He threw five innings, giving up three hits and an earned run. He struck out eight and walked one. In his last seven starts, he is 1-2 with a 2.97 ERA, with 44 strikeouts and 10 walks.

In the Thursday series finale, Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (11-4, 2.90) opposes Toronto right-hander Kevin Gausman.

Eovaldi is building himself back up after spending more than a month on the injured list. In his second start since his activation on Saturday, he threw 2 1/3 innings, giving up three hits and no runs. He struck out three and walked two.

Gausman started on Saturday against Kansas City and claimed a win in an eight-inning performance, giving up two hits and one earned run. He struck out 10 and walked one. In his last seven starts, he is 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA.

After the Jays, the Rangers start a three-game series at the Cleveland Guardians on Friday.

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