Major League Baseball's trading deadline is this coming Sunday, and the Texas Rangers will be in Canada taking on the Toronto Blue Jays when it comes. On Friday, though, they'll be taking the field in the Rogers Centre as rumors swirl about acquiring a reliever as Alexi Ogando takes the mound to take on Brett Cecil of the Blue Jays.
Ogando will look to earn his 11th win of the season on Friday night. The righty's record currently sits at 10-4 with a 2.79 ERA, .213 BAA and 1.02 WHIP. Ogando has issued just 28 walks in 119.1 innings as well, while striking out 89 batters.
Ogando's last start came at home in Arlington against the Blue Jays. Ogando was hung with the loss after pitching 6.2 innings, giving up three runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out six. Texas went on to lose the game 3-0.
There will be a new threat in Toronto's lineup on Friday that Ogando didn't have to face last week - Colby Rasmus. The Blue Jays acquired Rasmus in a deal with the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this week, trading away Edwin Jackson (who had been acquired from the White Sox earlier that day), Marc Rzepczynski, Octavio Dotel and Corey Patterson to acquire the centerfielder along with Brian Tallet and P.J. Walters.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:07 p.m. CDT.