Texas Rangers
-Friday marked the fourth time in five games that the team scored two or fewer runs, hitting .211 with three HRs
-Won four of seven games against the Blue Jays this year (1-3 at Rogers Centre)
-The Rangers are 18-11 (.621) in day games, the AL’s third-best win percentage behind the Orioles (.647) and Yankees (.632)
-Lead the majors with a .276 daytime average, played an MLB-low 29 day games
-Joe Nathan has converted 21 consecutive saves
-SP Roy Oswalt will be working on extended nine days’ rest
Toronto Blue Jays
-The Jays have won 12 of their last 16 home games against the Rangers
-Lost four of their last five completed series, going 5-13 over that span
-SP Carlos Villanueva has allowed three runs or fewer in seven of his eight starts
Chicago Cubs
-Playing their first doubleheader since Aug. 13, 2008
-SS Starlin Castro is batting .353 in his last nine games, picking up his 36th multi-hit effort last night
-The Cubs are 3-7 against the Reds this season (7-11 in 2011)
-SP Jeff Samardzija has thrown 100-plus pitches in three of his last four starts
-Samardzija has a 5.56 daytime ERA in 12 starts (2.57 ERA at night)
Cincinnati Reds
-SP Johnny Cueto is 10-0 with a 1.55 ERA in 12 daytime starts
-The Reds are 40-17 in games played on the weekend and have won 16 straight games played on Friday or Saturday
-Closer Aroldis Chapman has a 0.17 ERA versus NL teams
-Gone 15-6 against the Cubs at home the last three years
Read my early thoughts on one of tonight's American League contests