Down year better after a banner

The Blue Jays and Rangers are set for another mid-September matchup, the second in as many seasons, but this series won't have quite the same intensity as the last.

- GREGOR CHISHOLM

Both teams were in the thick of last year's wild-card race. They expected to be in the same spot, if not better, this season. Instead, they're integrating rookies and playing out the string after falling out of contention months ago.

Tuesday's series opener in Texas will be a battle between two of Major League Baseball's biggest disappointments: the Rangers, who went from winning a World Series to a distant third place in their own division, and a Jays team that cratered after back-to-back trips to the playoffs.

Exciting, huh? With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Jays and Rangers are essentially in the same place with one game separating them in the standings. They have similar strengths and weaknesses, but the noticeable difference has been health.

The Rangers have been decimated by injuries. Some were expected as ace Jacob deGrom and righty Tyler Mahle rehabbed from major surgeries. Others to right-hander Jon Gray, third baseman Josh Jung and shortstop Corey Seager - were not.