The Texas Rangers will try to go for sweep when they meet the host Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday at Globe Life Park (8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT, FOX Sports 1/Sportsnet) in Game 3 of the American League Division Series (ALDS) in the Major League Baseball.
The Lone Star State is enjoying a 2-0 lead in the series after dumping the Great White North, 6-4, on Friday at the Rogers Centre that has given them an important lead in the best-of-five ALDS.
The Toronto Blue Jays vs Texas Rangers have lived up to much of its hype as the strongest teams in the last few months of the season, with the first two games providing the crowd with intensity and well-played games.
Despite enjoying a psychological advantage going into Game 3 of the ALDS, the Rangers said they are not overly confident.
"From what we went through this season and stuff we've battled through all year, I don't think that's possible," Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland said.
"We're definitely in a great spot. To come up here and beat that caliber of a team in their ballpark, in their home stadium, that's tough to do. So we're definitely happy that we're able to come out of here with both games and take it back home to our home crowd, and get to try to get the last one in front of our home fans."
"We have put ourselves in a perfect position, but we have to stay on top of them," Rangers reliever Shawn Tolleson said after the Game 2 victory. "We can't let up. There is no time for that."
The Toronto Blue Jays needs to push its players on the offensive when they take the game in its hometown on Sunday. The Blue Jays lead the Majors in running with 5.5 runs per game average. However, their three runs in Game 1 was not enough as they lost to the Texas Rangers, 5-3 and lost again on Game 2.
"It won't be easy," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons commented in a post-game interview after the Game 2 loss. "They've got a great team over there. They outplayed us both games. Today was a great ballgame and they ... came out on top. They outlasted us. It doesn't surprise me because they've got that good a team. They can keep coming."
Right-hander Marco Estrada will be pitching for the Blue Jays against the Rangers in Sunday's Game 3 as he will be pitted against Texas lefty Martin Perez. Estrada went 13-8 with a 3.13 ERA in his best year as a starter in the Majors, and was 7-3 with a 2.78 ERA in the second half of the season. He lost his only start against Texas this year, but he pitched well in that outing, giving up only one run on four hits in six innings.
"Every game's like this," Estrada said. "You want to win every single one. I've pitched in the playoffs before [for Milwaukee in 2011], but out of the bullpen. ... Got a taste of it and had a lot of fun with it. "I had a lot of adrenaline going. I know how to handle it and I've been there before, so I'm looking forward to starting Sunday."
But the Rangers are not sleeping on its laurels. "Whether we are up 2-0 or [it's] 1-1, we still have a task at hand," Rangers catcher Chris Gimenez said. "We still need to win ballgames. We still have our ultimate goal and we still have to get more wins than just the next one."
TV: MLB Network & Sports Net Canada (live stream on MLB Network Live & SportsNet Live)
Live stream: MLB.com (subscription required; $4.99 for all postseason minus World Series) or via Cric Free.
Radio: 105.3 The Fan, ESPN Radio, 1540AM ESPN Deportes; SN590 (Toronto)
