Jays-Rangers rivalry resumes at 4 today

ARLINGTON — There is a time to settle scores. This is not it. That’s the bottom line for the Rangers and Blue Jays.

“This is the playoffs,” Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre said. “You know how difficult it is to get where we’re at right now?”

Game Date Time Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 6 4:30 p.m. TOR @ TEX TBS/SN/TVA Gm 2 Oct. 7 1 p.m. TOR @ TEX TBS/SN/TVA Gm 3 Oct. 9 7:30 p.m. TEX @ TOR  TBS/SN/TVA *Gm 4 Oct. 10 TBD TEX @ TOR TBS/SN/TVA *Gm 5 Oct. 12 TBD TOR @ TEX TBS/SN/TVA *- If necessary | All times listed ETShop for postseason gear: Rangers | Blue Jays • Complete Postseason coverage

Down the hallway in the visiting clubhouse at Globe Life Park, the message was the same ahead of Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. CT on TBS in the U.S., and Sportsnet (English) and TVA (French) in Canada. Texas lefty Cole Hamels opposes Toronto righty Marco Estrada in the opener.

“I’m not looking for revenge,” Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista said. “I’m looking to win ballgames. That’s entirely what my focus is on. Hopefully, I get to keep it there.”

Sure, there’s bad blood between the Rangers and Blue Jays. Neither team runs from that fact.

“There’s no secret the two teams don’t like each other,” Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar said. “They don’t like what we did to them last year. We don’t like the way they responded.”

But something far more important is at stake. Something players dream about their entire lives — a World Series championship.

This American League Division Series that begins Thursday at 4:30 p.m. ET on TBS, as well as Sportsnet (English) and TVA (French) in Canada, is more than a rematch of last year’s postseason. It’s about a crack at winning a ring. Seasons are too long and too difficult to get sidetracked by anything else at this point in the season.

“We have our mind on …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com