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Blue Jays-Rangers Preview

Jun 8, 2009 - 2:39 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Toronto (31-27) at Texas (32-23), 8:05 p.m. EDT

Scott Feldman made his last appearance out of the Texas Rangers bullpen in late April against the Toronto Blue Jays. Since then, he's become a vital member of the rotation.

Feldman looks to win his fourth straight start when the AL-West leading Rangers begin a 10-game homestand Monday in the opener of a four-game series against the Blue Jays.

When these teams last met, Texas (33-23) entered the series having lost seven of 12 to open the season. The Blue Jays (32-27) won two of the three games, taking advantage of the Rangers' rotation woes by scoring 12 runs over 17 innings against the starters.

Texas, though, has gotten a boost by moving Feldman (5-0, 3.79 ERA) out of the bullpen after he struggled in 1 2-3 innings of relief against Toronto on April 22. He has a 2.63 ERA since joining the rotation and the Rangers have won his last six starts as he's held opposing batters to a .206 average.

The right-hander pitched 6 1-3 innings against the New York Yankees on Wednesday, allowing two runs and five hits in a 4-2 victory. He had never won more than two consecutive starts until winning his last three.

"Scott Feldman has been great since we put him in the starting rotation," manager Ron Washington said. "He always does what you need him to do, keep you in the ballgame."

Feldman, though, is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in two starts and three relief appearances against the Blue Jays.

He'll try to help the Rangers get off to a good start on this homestand after they split a six-game road trip. Texas is 18-9 at home this season, including 12-3 since May 1.

The Rangers were 2-4 in Arlington against Toronto last season after winning 22 of the previous 28 between the teams there.

Texas concluded its road trip by taking two of three in Boston over the weekend, including a 6-3 win Sunday. The Rangers, held to two hits in an 8-1 loss to the Red Sox on Saturday, had 12 hits in the victory, including six for extra bases. Michael Young and Nelson Cruz each homered as Texas won its first series at Fenway Park in nearly 12 years.

"I'm very glad with how the guys recovered," Washington said. "You learn from the day before and you go out there and it's a different challenge every day."

Toronto, meanwhile, finished its nine-game homestand with a winning record after beating Kansas City 4-0 Sunday to take two of three in the series. Roy Halladay pitched a seven-hitter to improve to 10-1, while Aaron Hill and Lyle Overbay each homered.

Overbay is batting .452 (19 for 42) with eight doubles, two homers and 12 RBIs during a 13-game hitting streak. Hill ended an 0-for-25 drought with his two-run homer, pushing his team leading totals to 13 home runs and 40 RBIs.

"It was a relief to help the team with something instead of just defense," said Hill, who went 6 for 14 in April's series against Texas.

Casey Janssen (1-2, 5.82) will make his fourth start of the season Monday for the Blue Jays. The right-hander allowed five runs and seven hits over a season-low four innings of an 8-1 loss to the Angels on Wednesday.

Janssen is 0-2 with a 5.65 ERA in two starts and three relief appearances against the Rangers. This is his first time facing them since 2007.