ARLINGTON, Texas _ Left-hander Cole Hamels was named Wednesday as the Texas Rangers' starting pitcher for Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Hamels was the choice to start Thursday in the ALDS lid-lifter at Globe Life Park over right-hander Yu Darvish, who will start Friday in Game 2. Colby Lewis and Martin Perez are likely to start Games 3 and 4 at Toronto.
Hamels went 15-5 with a 3.32 ERA in 32 starts and was one of two Rangers selected to the All-Star Game. Hamels topped 200 innings, though barely at 200 1/3, for the seventh consecutive season and notched 200 strikeouts for the fifth time in his career.
The Rangers started Hamels in Games 2 and 5 of the ALDS last year, with both starts coming at Rogers Centre. He was 0-1 but with a 2.70 ERA, taking a no-decision in the Rangers' Game 2 win and taking the loss in Game 5 despite allowing only two earned runs.
The solid pitching was an extension of his fine postseason work. The MVP of the 2008 National League Championship Series and World Series is 7-5 with a 3.03 ERA in 15 career postseason starts.
Darvish went 7-5 with a 3.41 ERA in his comeback season from Tommy John surgery and piled up 132 strikeouts in 100 1/3 innings. But he has only one career postseason appearance, allowing two runs (one earned) over 6 2/3 innings and taking the loss in the 2012 wild-card game against Baltimore.
