Texas @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 29, 2011 ) Texas 2, Toronto 3

THE STORY: The Toronto Blue Jays have a gaping hole at the back end of their starting rotation and they're hoping Brad Mills can fill it - at least in the interim. Mills makes his 2011 debut Saturday as he leads the host Jays into the second of a three-game series against the Texas Rangers. Mills will be opposed by fellow lefthander Derek Holland, who will seek to become the fourth Texas pitcher to reach 10 victories on the season.

TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, FS Houston, Rogers Sportsnet (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Derek Holland (9-4, 4.43 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Brad Mills (2010: 1-0, 5.64).

Holland's performance was largely overlooked last time out as he picked up the win in the Rangers' 20-6 rout of the Minnesota Twins. The 24-year-old bounced back nicely after getting roughed up for seven runs over 5 1/3 innings in his previous start. Holland is 1-1 lifetime versus the Blue Jays, but has allowed 15 runs in 15 1/3 innings against them. Mills will be making his sixth career major-league start Saturday, and his first against the Rangers. The 26-year-old made seven appearances with the Blue Jays last season, his best coming nearly a year ago to the day when he blanked the Baltimore Orioles over seven strong innings. Mills went 9-7 with a 3.99 ERA in 20 starts for Triple A Las Vegas.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (60-47): Texas could be without Nelson Cruz for the rest of the weekend and beyond. A week after recording a career-best eight RBIs against the Jays, Cruz left in the fifth inning of Friday's 3-2 loss after suffering tightness in his left quad. His status after the game wasn't immediately known, but it isn't the first time Cruz has struggled with leg injuries. A right quad ailment landed him on the disabled list in May. Cruz's absence would put a serious dent in the Rangers' offense as the 31-year-old outfielder leads the team with 23 home runs - including a solo shot Friday.

ABOUT THE BLUE JAYS (54-52): J.P. Arencibia's up-and-down rookie season took another uptick Friday as he belted the deciding three-run homer to lift Toronto two games above .500. The 25-year-old signal-caller has five round-trippers in his last six games, giving him 17 on the season. While normally that would be cause for optimism, he is hitting only .220 and will likely remain in the nine-hole in the lineup. Every player on the Blue Jays roster that has faced Holland has at least one hit off him, and the team is batting a collective .357 against the him.

FINAL PITCH: New Blue Jays outfielder Colby Rasmus will be looking for his first hit in a Toronto uniform Saturday. He is 0-for-8 with five strikeouts since joining the Jays in a trade with St. Louis on Thursday.