Underdog Rangers excited for Game 1 in Toronto

The Texas Rangers are the underdogs for their first postseason game Thursday afternoon. But the players don’t seem to mind.

One very good way to motivate a team like the Rangers is to tell them they don’t have a chance. Going into the series about 20 ESPN analysists have picked the Blue Jays in this best of five series.

But the Rangers know things won’t be decided by so-called experts. This is a team accustomed to bucking the odds

The players got a chance to work out Wednesday at the Rogers Center in Toronto. Manager Jeff Bannister talked about their overall attitude.

“I think it’s full of energy, belief, confidence, but yet they’re the ones that aren’t being given a chance. So, I also think there’s a little different edge and I thank you all,” he said.

Yovani Gallardo, a graduate of Trimble Tech High School, will start in the playoff opener. He held the Blue Jays scoreless over 13 innings. That’s impressive against a very strong offense.

“Not many people get this opportunity to pitch Game 1 in the postseason for a team they grew up watching. You know, I’m from Fort Worth and lived there all my life. To put that uniform on in the postseason and start Game 1, it’s gonna be a lot of excitement and a lot of adrenaline going on, that’s for sure,” Gallardo said.

Thursday’s game will be on FOX Sports 1 started at 2:37 p.m. Game 2, also in Toronto, is Friday at 11:45 a.m. on the MLB Network.

The Rangers return home for Game 3 Sunday. It will air on FOX Sports 1 at 7:10 p.m.