Sports Today Sunday, September 20
← Back to today’s slate MLB matchup · September 20, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays
76-79 · 4th in AL East, 18.5 GB
Bats heating up
RHP Spencer Miles · Command specialist
@
Texas Rangers
78-77 · 1st in AL West
Offense cooling lately
RHP Jacob deGrom · Elite strikeout stuff · plus control
MLB · Globe Life Field · 11:35 AM PT

Team Identity

Toronto Blue Jays
Season-to-date, 155 games, 5,924 PA.
A contact-oriented offense that puts the ball in play and avoids empty at-bats, though it can be free-swinging. The bats have been heating up lately.
Power
Well Below17
Contact
Above Avg79
Plate Discipline
Well Below15
Speed
Average48
RISP
Well Below24
Recent Form
Trending Up
Walk rate is up 18% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.
Texas Rangers
Season-to-date, 155 games, 5,953 PA.
An opportunistic offense that cashes in scoring chances. The offense has cooled off recently.
Power
Average50
Contact
Average50
Plate Discipline
Average52
Speed
Below Avg42
RISP
Above Avg77
Recent Form
Trending Down
Total bases per PA is down 15% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.

What This Game Is About

Biggest Advantage

Rangers bring the more opportunistic profile, while Blue Jays lean on being contact-oriented.

Swing Factor

Jacob deGrom strikes hitters out at a 30.6% clip (96th percentile); Blue Jays carry a 18.6% strikeout rate.

Momentum

Blue Jays are trending up and Rangers are trending down over their last 10 games.

Key Matchups

Can Jacob deGrom miss enough bats?
Jacob deGrom strikes hitters out at a 30.6% clip (96th percentile); Blue Jays carry a 18.6% strikeout rate.
Edge · Blue JaysJacob deGrom: 30.6% K rateBlue Jays: 18.6% K rateHigh confidence
Can Jacob deGrom limit Blue Jays' power?
Blue Jays rank in the 17th percentile in extra-base production, while Jacob deGrom sits in the 55th percentile at suppressing total bases.
Edge · Jacob deGromBlue Jays: 0.338 TB/PAJacob deGrom: 0.330 TB/PA allowed (634 PA)High confidence
Can Spencer Miles limit Rangers' power?
Rangers rank in the 50th percentile in extra-base production, while Spencer Miles sits in the 86th percentile at suppressing total bases.
Edge · Spencer MilesRangers: 0.344 TB/PASpencer Miles: 0.267 TB/PA allowed (382 PA)High confidence
Can Jacob deGrom command the strike zone?
Blue Jays walk in 7.3% of trips; Jacob deGrom allows walks sparingly (6.2%).
Edge · Jacob deGromBlue Jays: 7.3% walk rateJacob deGrom: 6.2% walks allowedHigh confidence
How do Rangers handle right-handers?
Rangers have produced worse against right-handers this season (0.332 vs. 0.344 TB/PA overall).
Edge · Spencer Milesvs right-handers: 0.332 TB/PA (4202 PA)overall: 0.344 TB/PAModerate confidence

Pitcher Trends

Spencer Miles
Spencer Miles
Toronto Blue Jays · 4 starts
SP
Strikeouts2.2/start
Hits allowed5.0/start
4 or fewer Strikeouts — 4 of last 45 or fewer Hits Allowed — 2 of last 4
23% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.
Jacob deGrom
Jacob deGrom
Texas Rangers · 8 starts
SP
Strikeouts7.4/start
Hits allowed3.1/start
7+ Strikeouts — 5 of last 64 or fewer Hits Allowed — 5 of last 6
31% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.

Player Trends

Danny Jansen
Danny Jansen
Texas Rangers · 0.333 hit rate · 0.417 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L55 / 5L109 / 10L2514 / 258-game hit streak
Hit rate is up 126% over his prior baseline, with hits in 7 of his last 7 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 4%.
Kazuma Okamoto
Kazuma Okamoto
Toronto Blue Jays · 0.250 hit rate · 0.575 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L54 / 5L108 / 10L2518 / 252-game hit streak
Total bases per PA is up 47% over his prior baseline, with hits in 8 of his last 10 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 20%.
Josh Jung
Josh Jung
Texas Rangers · 0.312 hit rate · 0.562 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L54 / 5L108 / 10L2518 / 254-game hit streak
Total bases per PA is up 46% over his prior baseline, with hits in 6 of his last 7 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 12%.
Evan Carter
Evan Carter
Texas Rangers · 0.036 hit rate · 0.036 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L50 / 5L102 / 10L259 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 87% over his prior baseline, with hits in 1 of his last 9 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 36%.
Ernie Clement
Ernie Clement
Toronto Blue Jays · 0.081 hit rate · 0.108 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L51 / 5L103 / 10L2511 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 70% over his prior baseline, with hits in 3 of his last 10 games.
Ezequiel Duran
Ezequiel Duran
Texas Rangers · 0.146 hit rate · 0.171 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L53 / 5L105 / 10L2516 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 58% over his prior baseline, with hits in 5 of his last 10 games.

Players Positioned to Succeed

78
Corey Seager
Corey Seager
1+ Hit
Texas Rangers
Why it stands out
Batting 2nd, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
77
Brett Bateman
Brett Bateman
1+ Hit
Toronto Blue Jays
Why it stands out
Batting 1st, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
73
Josh Jung
Josh Jung
1+ Hit
Texas Rangers
Why it stands out
Batting 3rd, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
70
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
1+ Hit
Toronto Blue Jays
Why it stands out
Batting 2nd, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
64
Kazuma Okamoto
Kazuma Okamoto
1+ Hit
Toronto Blue Jays
Why it stands out
Batting 4th, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
62
Ezequiel Duran
Ezequiel Duran
1+ Hit
Texas Rangers
Why it stands out
Batting 4th, confirmed lineup
No notable risk

Expected Game Shape

Starter-drivenModerate confidence

Runs may be at a premium if the starters hold form. Blue Jays bring stronger recent momentum. Rangers bring more power. Starting pitching is likely to set the tone.

Early edge Rangers Driver Pitching and command Volatility Elevated
  • Both probable starters grade around the 73rd percentile in combined suppression.
  • Blue Jays are trending up; Rangers are trending down.

Storylines to Watch

Is Danny Jansen the one to watch?
Danny Jansen enters as Rangers' hottest bat. Hit rate is up 126% over his prior baseline, with hits in 7 of his last 7 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 4%.
0.333 hit rate · 0.417 TB/PA · 0.147 hit rate · 0.289 TB/PA
Can Evan Carter snap out of it?
Evan Carter has cooled off. Total bases per PA is down 87% over his prior baseline, with hits in 1 of his last 9 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 36%.
0.036 hit rate · 0.036 TB/PA · 0.165 hit rate · 0.274 TB/PA
Based on plate appearances before 2026-09-20, with today's posted lineups when available. Injuries, weather, bullpen availability, and park factors are not yet included.