Blue Jays, Rangers feature powerful offences for ALDS

Two potent offences and a hitter-friendly park in the Rogers Centre could make for some excitement when the Toronto Blue Jays host the Texas Rangers in the American League Division Series.

Toronto, which went 4-2 against Texas this season, opens the best-of-five series with home games Thursday and Friday before heading to Globe Life Park in Arlington for the next two.

Both teams rode second-half surges to the playoffs, with Toronto reloading at the trade deadline.

Toronto (93-69) was 45-46 at the all-star-break then kicked in the after-burners to go 48-23. That includes a 1-4 end to the season after clinching its division.

Texas (88-74) won 14 of its last 21 games, and went 46-28 after the all-star break.

Toronto and Texas boasted the most potent offences after the all-streak break, with the Jays topping the majors at 405 runs and the Rangers second at 381.

Jays, Rangers at opposite ends of post-season experience

Unlike the Jays, the Rangers have plenty of recent post-season experience having won the AL West three of the last six years. But Texas ranked last in the American League with a 67-95 record in 2014.

The Rangers are the fifth team in MLB history and the second AL team to make the playoffs after finishing in the league basement the previous year.

The Jays bring a big bat to the post-season.

Toronto led the majors in runs scored (891), home runs (232), on-base percentage (.340) and slugging percentage (.457) and ranked second in batting average (.270).

Texas ranked third in runs (751), 11th in home runs (172), sixth in on-base percentage (.325), ninth in slugging percentage (.413) and 10th in batting average (.257).

Prince Fielder, Mitch Moreland, and Shin-Soo Choo led the Texas attack with a combined 68 homers and 265 RBIs. Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion powered the Toronto offence with a combined 120 home runs and 348 RBIs.

Both teams were farther down the pitching stats.

Toronto was 12th in the majors in earned-run average (3.80) and 11th in opponents' batting average (.248)

Texas was 23rd in ERA (4.24) and 24th in opponents' batting average (.262).

Home-field advantage helps the Jays, who were 53-28 at the Rogers Centre this year and 40-41 on the road. But the Rangers fared well away from home with a 45-36 mark while they were 43-38 at Globe Life Park.

Rangers name starting pitchers

Yovani Gallardo will start for the Texas Rangers in their ALDS opener Thursday, and ace lefty Cole Hamels will pitch for the AL West champions in the second game at Toronto.

Manager Jeff Banister announced only the starters for the first two games Tuesday, when the team worked out at home before departing for Canada.

Gallardo (13-11, 3.42 ERA) won both of his starts this season against the Blue Jays, the only Texas wins against the AL East champs. The right-hander threw 13 2-3 scoreless innings, as Toronto had six hits and batted .136 against him.

The Rangers have won their past 10 games started by Hamels, including the regular-season finale Sunday with his complete game in a 9-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels to clinch the division title.

Hamels is 7-1 in 12 starts since Texas acquired him from Philadelphia in late July.