Blue Jays vs. Rangers: Full series preview and pitching matchups

Game 2:  Tuesday, May 3rd   –   7:07 ET

Marco Estrada (1-2, 2.92 ERA) vs.
Martin Perez (1-2, 4.20 ERA)

Tuesday’s game against Perez could represent one of the more favourable matchups for the Blue Jays, as the 25-year-old left-hander has struggled at times early in 2016.

Right off the bat, Martin Perez’s career splits versus right-handed hitters represent a soft landing for Toronto’s righty-heavy lineup. While lefty bats have recorded just a .654 OPS off of Perez, right-handed bats have produced a line of .284 / .343 / .428 (.772 OPS).

Along with the big bats atop the lineup, this could be a good opportunity for manager John Gibbons to give second baseman Darwin Barney a start over Ryan Goins.

To Perez’s credit, though, he was stronger in his last outing against the Yankees, allowing just two earned runs over six innings of work. His walks, however, have been a serious concern.

Perez has walked 15 batters this season, but struck out just 14. He does well to produce ground balls, but his rate is down from last season (59.9% to 52.8%) and three home runs have already left the yard against him.

Estrada, on the other hand, has been the ultimate battler for the Jays. Not all of his starts have gone smoothly, or completely as planned, but he’s emerged on the other side with some nice pitching lines.

Last time out against the Chicago White Sox, Estrada allowed three earned runs over six and two-thirds innings. He’s run into some trouble with the walks too, though, giving out four free passes in each of his last two outings.

Estrada does have strikeout totals of eight and nine in his first four starts, however, bringing his K/9 well above last year’s mark to 9.1.

Next: Game 3: The Sanchize starts, age vs. experience