Rangers to start Martin Perez in Game 3

The Texas Rangers announced Thursday that left-hander Martin Perez, who returned from Tommy John surgery in July, will start Game 3 of their American League Division Series matchup with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Poised to follow Yovani Gallardo and Cole Hamels in the rotation, Perez will start Sunday at Globe Life Park in lieu of both Derek Holland and Colby Lewis, both of whom will be available out of the bullpen for Thursday's series opener in Toronto.

Perez, who will take the mound opposite Marco Estrada in Game 3, fashioned a 4.46 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP in 14 starts during the regular season, but managed a 6.33 strikeout-to-walk ratio and allowed just one home run in six starts at Globe Life Park.

Though the 24-year-old crafted a tidy 2.85 fielding independent at home in 2015, few teams pummeled left-handers like Toronto did this season. The Blue Jays led the majors with a .818 OPS against lefties this season, stroking 52 home runs - the sixth-most in baseball - despite receiving fewer at-bats against southpaws than all but four teams.