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Series Preview: Blue Jays look to climb back to .500 again in four-game series against Rangers
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Photo credit: © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jun 25, 2026, 15:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 26, 2026, 04:46 EDT
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For the second consecutive series, the Toronto Blue Jays are hosting a Texas-based team.
Their series against the Houston Astros was a disappointing one, dropping two of three, with both of those games being winnable. After reaching .500 with a victory on Monday, they blew a late lead on Tuesday, then the Astros broke through late in the series finale, giving the Blue Jays a 39-41 record heading into their four-game weekend series.
The wheels haven’t completely come off yet, but this is a struggling team that needs something to get going.  At a certain point, injuries aren’t an excuse, as the midway point of the season is just around the corner. They have to start winning, and soon.
Let’s take a look at the Rangers.

Examining the Rangers

Now nearly three years removed from their 2023 World Series victory, it’s pretty clear that the Texas Rangers are a one-and-done type of team. Entering Thursday’s game, the American League West team has a 38-42 record, albeit a positive record against teams with a .500 record.
The AL West as a whole has not been good this season, the Rangers are just two and a half games behind the division leaders, but this is a team best described as average. With the bats, the Rangers are slashing .242/.317/.389 with 83 home runs, good for a 99 wRC+. Those 83 home runs are the 10th-fewest in the league, while also posting a 22.5 K%, 12th-worst in the league. Their 99 wRC+ sits in the middle of the pack.
Rangers’ starters have an ERA of 4.26, which sits in the middle of the pack. As does their 4.13 FIP, good for 12th-best in the big leagues. That said, their staters’ K% of 24.3% sits fourth-best, but they’ve also given up 63 home runs, tied for the fifth-most.
Their bullpen is solid, posting a 3.60 (ninth) and 4.13 FIP (16th). However, their bullpen has struck out just 20.1% of batters, tied for the third-lowest K%. They’ve done a good job keeping the ball in the park, as the Rangers’ bullpen has given up 32 home runs, tied for the 10th-fewest among MLB bullpens.

One player to watch: Josh Jung

The Rangers’ best hitter is Josh Jung. This season, the 28-year-old is slashing .296/.355/.436 with eight home runs in 321 plate appearances, good for a 123 wRC+ and 2.1 fWAR. He’s hard to strikeout, posting just a 16.8 K% while walking 7.5% of the time.
That said, the Blue Jays have had success against him in the limited games he’s played. Over his 55 plate appearances, Jung is slashing just .154/.200/.228 with two home runs. Keeping his bat quiet, as well as the rest of their above-average hitters, is how the Jays are going to win this series.

Quick Hits

  • There are a few other dangerous hitters on the Rangers. Jake Burger’s 13 home runs league the team, and he has a 109 wRC+. Joc Pederson is a left-handed batting righty masher, and he has 11 home runs in just 248 plate appearances for a 120 wRC+. Brandon Nimmo, acquired via trade last off-season, is slashing .267/.333/.429 with eight home runs in 336 plate appearances.
  • Ezequiel Duran has hit six home runs this season, and is the other hitter in the lineup with a wRC+ above 100. Corey Seager has hit nine home runs, and Evan Carter has struggled this season, hitting six home runs in his 229 plate appearances. Both Carter and Seager are batting below the Mendoza Line.
  • On the mound, the Jays will face MacKenzie Gore on Thursday, Nathan Eovaldi on Friday, Kumar Rocker on Saturday, and Canadian Cal Quantrill on Sunday. They’ll miss Jacob deGrom, who pitched in the series finale against the Miami Marlins.
  • The Jays will counter with Kevin Gausman on Thursday, Patrick Corbin on Friday, Dylan Cease on Saturday and Shane Bieber on Sunday.

Probable pitchers

Thursday: Kevin Gausman/MacKenzie Gore
Friday: Patrick Corbin/Nathan Eovaldi
Saturday: Dylan Cease/TBD
Sunday: Shane Bieber/TBD

Game times

Thursday: 7:07 PM ET
Friday: 7:07 PM ET
Saturday: 3:07 PM ET
Sunday: 1:37 PM ET
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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