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Toronto Blue Jays vs. Texas Rangers: The lineups

Blue Jays slugger Josh Donaldson laughs during a team workout at the Rogers Centre on Wednesday.

Blue Jays slugger Josh Donaldson laughs during a team workout at the Rogers Centre on Wednesday.

(Darren Calabrese / Associated Press)
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Projected lineups

P - TORONTO; AVG.; HR; RBI

LF - Ben Revere; .306; 2;45

3B - Josh Donaldson; .297; 41; 123

RF - Jose Bautista; .250;40; 114

DH - Edwin Encarnacion; .277; 39; 111

SS - Troy Tulowitzki; .280; 17; 70

1B - Justin Smoak; .226; 18; 59

C - Russell Martin; .240; 23; 77

CF - Kevin Pillar; .278; 12; 56

2B - Ryan Goins; .250; 5; 45

P - TEXAS; AVG.; HR; RBI

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CF - Delino DeShields; .261; 2; 37

RF - Shin-Soo Choo; .276; 22; 82

3B - Adrian Beltre; .287; 18; 83

DH - Prince Fielder; .305; 23; 98

1B - Mike Napoli; .224; 18; 50

LF - Josh Hamilton; .253;8; 25

SS - Elvis Andrus; .258; 7; 62

2B - Rougned Odor; .261; 16; 61

C - Robinson Chirinos; .232; 10; 34

Keys to the series

General managers take note: This is how you use the trade deadline. Toronto has the best record in the American League since July 31. The Rangers’ is second-best. The Blue Jays’ fearsome lineup has two 40-home-run hitters, and nearly a third. Toronto leads the majors in run differential, runs, home runs, on-base percentage and slugging. One point better and they’d have tied for the lead in average too. They added a pitching staff ace, David Price, at the deadline, and a second one, Marcus Stroman, from the disabled list. The back of the Rangers’ rotation has an earned-run average over 4.50. A glimmer of hope: Yovani Gallardo hasn’t given up a run in two starts against Toronto.

The pick: Blue Jays in four.

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