Blue Jays vs. Rays Preview: Can Toronto Overtake Tampa in Wildcard Race?

The Toronto Blue Jays open a big eight-game homestand and five-game streak against the Tampa Bay Rays at the Rogers Center.

Oddly enough, it’s Toronto’s second five-game series against the Rays this season — thanks to the delayed start to the season while the players and owners negotiated a new CBA.

The Rays are tied with the Seattle Mariners for the top spot in the American League wildcard race, just a half game ahead of the Blue Jays.

Toronto now has a 5.5 game advantage over the Baltimore Orioles in the race for third and last place.

Here’s a look at the Blue Jays-Rays series.

Probably jugs

Monday, 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT: Toronto RHP Jose Berrios (10-5, 5.23 ERA) vs. Tampa Bay RHP Cooper Criswell (MLB debut 2022)

Tuesday, 1:07 p.m. ET / 10:07 a.m. PT: Toronto TBA vs Tampa Bay LHP Jeffrey Springs (7-4, 2.54 ERA)

Tuesday 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT: Jugs TBA

Wednesday 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT: Toronto RHP Ross Stripling (7-4, 3.03 ERA) vs Tampa Bay RHP Drew Rasmussen (10-4, 2.57 ERA)

Thursday, 3:07 p.m. ET / 12:07 p.m. PT: Toronto RHP Kevin Gausman (12-9, 3.31 ERA)

(All matches on Sportsnet)

Latest on the Blue Jays

Coming off an impressive 8-2 road trip, the Blue Jays (78-61) put them in a much more comfortable position.

Before the trip, they were just 2.5 games ahead of Baltimore for the final wildcard spot.

Toronto lost 4-1 to the Texas Rangers in the series finals on Sunday, a bullpen day for the Blue Jays.

Shortstop Bo Bichette was the offensive catalyst for Toronto in September, hitting .500/.532/1.092 with six homers and 18 RBI.

Latest on the rays

After winning the series opener in New York, the Rays (78-60) lost back-to-back to the Yankees and fell 5.5 games behind the division lead (Toronto is six behind).

The Yankees, whose hold on the division has slipped dramatically after a tough few months, won 10-3 on Saturday and 10-4 on Sunday.

It was the first time the Yankees had double digits against the Rays since June 2019.

Rays starter Luis Patino didn’t get out of the second inning on Sunday.

Tampa is now 31-36 on the road in stark contrast to his 47-24 mark at Tropicana Field.

The Rays got shortstop Wander Franco (right wrist) back from the injured list on Friday. He had been out since July.

pitching plans

While the Blue Jays haven’t announced any starters for Tuesday’s doubleheader, Alek Manoah and Mitch White appear to be getting the call.

The struggling White was voted the Triple-A Buffalo last week but may return as an extra man for the doubleheader.

Right-hander Kevin Gausman would start Thursday’s series finale.

The Rays also have two games to figure out in the series. They had hoped to eventually use Ryan Yarbrough as a bulk pitcher, but he had to play five innings Sunday after Patino’s rocky start.

But in much better news for the Rays, ace Shane McClanahan (11-5, 2.20 ERA) is expected to return from the IL to start Thursday’s series finals. He is struggling with an impingement on his left shoulder.

McClanahan gave up one run and three hits, hitting 10 in seven innings in a 6-2 win over the Blue Jays on July 2 in Toronto.

The Rays are also calling several pitchers from Triple-A for the series, with Criswell scheduled to start in the opener.

season series

The Blue Jays are 4-6 against the Rays this season.

Tampa won three of five in a Canada Day weekend series at the Rogers Center.

That streak ended with three straight Blue Jays losses, including a doubleheader sweep for Tampa that left Gausman injured on the opener when he was hit by a comebacker.

The Blue Jays then took to the streets and lost six out of seven, resulting in the firing of manager Charlie Montoyo.

The teams shared an August miniseries in Tampa in which Gausman knocked out the Rays with one hit in eight innings while going 10 in the opener in a 3-1 win. The Rays beat Toronto 3-2 the following day, Yusei Kikuchi starting.

The Blue Jays and Rays conclude their four-game season streak September 22-25 in Tampa.

No Canada

Like last time, Ray’s left-hander Brooks Raley will not play in Toronto as he is not vaccinated against COVID-19.

Fellow Ryan Thompson missed the last series in Toronto for the same reason, but he is now on the injured list.

playoff clock

The Yankees, Mariners and Orioles all have Monday off.

On Tuesday in Boston, the Yankees start a series against the Red Sox (69-72), the Mariners entertain the San Diego Padres (77-64) and the Orioles make a quick trip to Washington to play against the lower Nationals (49-92 ) to compete ).

Next

The Blue Jays take on the Orioles in a three-game weekend in Toronto.