Bautista: 'I'm not looking for revenge' against the Rangers

After defeating the Baltimore Orioles in the American League wild-card game on Tuesday, the Toronto Blue Jays will enter an ALDS rematch with the Texas Rangers, who they began quite a fiery rivalry with after last season's playoff matchup.

Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista has been front and center in the drama involving the two clubs after his thrilling home run - and the ensuing batflip that followed - ended the 2015 ALDS in Toronto's favor. He was also involved in a showdown with Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor earlier this season which ended with Bautista taking a punch to his jaw.

Bautista has many reasons to dislike the Rangers - presumably more than anyone else on the Blue Jays' roster - but he isn't looking to exact any revenge on his opponents that doesn't lead to a 'W'.

"I'm not looking for revenge. I'm looking to win ballgames," Bautista told reporters, according to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith. "They might have their reasons to dislike me. I might have a couple more reasons to dislike them."

The Blue Jays open the ALDS in Texas on Thursday against left-hander Cole Hamels, and when Bautista walks onto the field, he isn't expecting a warm welcome.

"I'm expecting to get booed, so I think I'm going to be able to handle it just fine," he said.

Bautista hasn't been the same imposing force in the Blue Jays' lineup this season as he has in years past, hitting just .234 with 22 home runs and 69 RBIs, but he did deliver a home run during a 1-for-3 performance against the Orioles in the wild-card game.

During his 13-year career, the Dominican owns a .244/.395/.450 slash line against the Rangers to go along with nine home runs and 34 RBIs in 263 regular-season plate appearances. He also hit .273/.304/.636 with two home runs and 5 RBIs against them during last season's ALDS.