ALDS GameThread: Texas Rangers at Toronto Blue Jays Game 1

Texas Rangers' right-hander Yovani Gallardo, who's getting the start for the visiting team in Game 1 of the NLDS, has thrown two scoreless starts against the Toronto Blue Jays this season. Rangers' skipper Jeff Bannister was asked by reporters yesterday what the former Milwaukee Brewers' starter has done so well against the Jays this season?

"Well, if I gave away all my secrets you would be helping them out," Bannister joked. "Are you working for them?"

That comment drew a laugh from the press members in attendance.

"It's like any other ballclub," Bannister continued.

"You execute pitches that you have a greater chance of success. Yovani is a veteran pitcher who's not going to give in, who could throw strikes, he works out on the edges and throws just enough strikes to get you in swing mode and then he can go inside on you or he can go away. He can also work the vertical game as well. One thing that you can't do really is sit on any one pitch.

"Look, we know that that's a really good ball club over there. We look at the numbers, we've seen it. We hear everything that's being said. Dynamic ball club. Lot of power. They love playing this ballpark. We know that we've got to play well. We've got to pitch well, play well. We do that we've got an opportunity."

On the mound for the Jays is David Price, acquired from the Detroit Tigers this summer.

Blue Jays' manager John Gibbons talked in his pre-NLDS press conference about the impact the left-hander has had since he joined the Jays, not only on the mound, but in the clubhouse.

"I didn't know David at all other than competing against him in Tampa and then a couple times here when he's in Detroit," Gibbons said.

"So you always respect him as a competitor. I didn't realize he was the fun-loving, outgoing guy that is. From day one it was like he had been here for years. He really fit in with the guys. He's a character. He's really one of the characters of the game once you get to know him. That's big. I mean, it's never easy being traded, you go to a new spot, but, like I said, it was like he had been here for years and he fit right in."

Price's is making his eleventh postseason start as the Jays return to the postseason for the first time since 1993, when they won the World Series.

Game time: 3:30 PM EDT from Toronto

Price vs the Rangers:

Gallardo vs the Blue Jays: