Right-hander Kevin Gausman heads to the hill Monday for a matinee matchup as the Toronto Blue Jays begin a three-game road series against the Texas Rangers.
Watch the game live on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ starting at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.
The Blue Jays are aiming to bounce back after a three-game sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays, capped with a 13-0 rout Sunday.
The Florida heat got the Blue Jays as the Rays grabbed an early lead before pulling away with a seven-run fifth inning.
Starting pitcher Chris Bassitt gave up five runs on nine hits with two walks in four-plus innings. Toronto’s bats were limited to four hits and were shut out for the third time this season. It was also the third-largest road shutout margin of defeat in franchise history, according to Sportsnet Stats.
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The Blue Jays dropped to a 25-27 record and are seven games back of the division-leading New York Yankees.
Gausman holds a 4-4 record and 4.03 ERA this season. He is coming off a strong start last Wednesday against the San Diego Padres, pitching seven shutout innings in a 14-0 victory. Gausman recorded nine strikeouts while giving up only three hits.
The Rangers will counter with ace Jacob deGrom on the mound. The two-time Cy Young Award winner has a 4-1 record and 2.33 ERA this season.
DeGrom also had nine strikeouts in his most recent outing last Wednesday against the Yankees, but took the no-decision as the Rangers fell 4-3.
Texas (26-28) avoided a sweep at the hands of the lowly Chicago White Sox and snapped a five-game losing streak with a 5-4 victory Sunday. The Rangers rallied late with Adolis Garcia hitting a two-run double in a three-run ninth inning.