Texas @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 30, 2011 ) Texas 3, Toronto 0

THE STORY: The Toronto Blue Jays will celebrate one of the greatest players in franchise history Sunday - and they'll look to end the day with a victory as well - as they host the Texas Rangers in the finale of their series. Hall of Fame second baseman Roberto Alomar will become the first player in Blue Jays history to have his jersey number retired in what should be an emotional pre-game ceremony. As for the game itself, Toronto sends righthander Brandon Morrow against Texas counterpart C.J. Wilson in the rubber match of the three-game set.

TV: 1:37 p.m. ET, FS Southwest, Rogers Sportsnet (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH C.J. Wilson (10-4, 3.16 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Brandon Morrow (7-5, 4.71 ERA).

Wilson is coming off his worst start of the season, having been shelled for six runs over four innings in a 9-8 loss to the Minnesota Twins. He last faced the Blue Jays April 8 of last season, striking out nine over seven shutout innings but settling for a no-decision. Wilson has been exceptional of late at preventing the long ball, allowing one home run over his last 10 starts. Morrow was unable to escape the homer himself last time out, surrendering three of them in a 12-4 defeat at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles. That ended a personal five-game winning streak while marking Toronto's first loss in eight games with Morrow on the hill. Morrow's one and only start against Texas came April 28, when he earned a no-decision after surrendering two runs in six innings.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (61-47): Shorthanded Texas rode pitcher Derek Holland to a 3-0 victory Saturday afternoon, and will likely be short two players again Sunday. Outfielder Nelson Cruz will miss the game as he rests a strained left quad, while shortstop Elvis Andrus is nursing a right knee injury and will probably sit in order to avoid further injury on the Rogers Centre turf. Outfielder Josh Hamilton, whose sole appearance Saturday was in a pinch-hit role, will return to the starting lineup Sunday. The Rangers acquired some major bullpen help after Saturday's game, snagging Koji Uehara from the Orioles for first baseman Chris Davis and starter-turned-reliever Tommy Hunter. Uehara managed an impressive 1.72 ERA in 43 appearances with the Orioles.

ABOUT THE BLUE JAYS (54-53): While Toronto prepares to honor Alomar on Sunday, its current second baseman is struggling to do anything constructive at the plate. Only two years after a 36-homer, 108-RBI campaign, Aaron Hill is mired in a season-long drought that may soon threaten his status as the team's everyday second baseman. Hill has only five homers and 36 RBIs in 326 at-bats, and his .232 average is the worst in the American League among starters at his position. He has enjoyed some success against Wilson, going 3-for-6 in his career. Adam Lind has also done well against the skilled lefthander - batting 4-for-7 all-time - but he's sitting out Sunday's series finale because of a scheduled day off. No one on Toronto's current roster has homered off of Wilson.

FINAL PITCH: Toronto slugger Jose Bautista is still looking for his first homer since the All-Star Break. The reigning home run king has gone 35 at-bats without a longball since the mid-season classic, batting only .229 in that span.