Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Is that a fly ball? Or is it a seagull?
No, it’s the Tampa Bay Rays coming to town. OK! Blue Jays! Let’s play ball.
After a roller coaster series against the Miami Marlins, the Toronto Blue Jays (6-9) will host the Rays (12-8) in a American League East matchup this weekend.
The Rays are one of the hottest teams in baseball right now. They sit just 1.5 games back of the division leading New York Yankees (12-6) and hold Major League Baseball’s longest active winning streak of six games. The Rays are coming off of a four-game series sweep of the Boston Red Sox (6-13). They set a franchise record for most runs scored (42) in a series against any opponent.
The Blue Jays sit fourth in the AL East and sit 4.5 games back from the division lead. They have lost three of their previous five games and split a marathon of a series with the Marlins. Both games went into extra innings.
On Wednesday night, Toronto had seven total home runs hit by six different players and set a franchise record of six home runs in six consecutive innings.
The Blue Jays will have to find a way to consistently push runs across the plate if they want to cool off this Rays team.
Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
The last time they met:The last time the Blue Jays and Rays met was opening weekend of this season. The Rays stole two of three games. The Rays claimed the 10-inning rubber match 6-5 on a two-run walk-off hit by Rays centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier. Could we see another weekend of extra inning baseball?
Players to watch: Tampa Bay- Brandon Lowe:
The Rays second baseman is tearing the cover off of the ball. This season he has a total five home runs – four against left handed pitchers, a .309 average, 21 hits, 16 RBIs and 16 runs scored.
It will be interesting to see how the ball carries off his bat at Sahlen Field this weekend.
In 75 career at bats against Lowe has collected 17 hits, 14 RBIs, three home runs to go along with a .227 batting average.
Toronto- Bo Bichette: Bichette has left his mark on the Blue Jays lineup this season. On Wednesday night, he went 5 for 5 with one home run, one RBI, four singles, reached base six times, and also stole two bases. Bichette is the youngest shortstop with a five-hit game that included a home run since Cal Ripken Jr. in 1982. He’s also the only shortstop in modern era baseball to reach base six times, homer and steal two bases in the same game. In 45 career at bats against Tampa Bay, Bichette has a .267 batting average, 12 hits, three home runs, six RBIs and five runs.
He said what?:
“We’ve had a lot of rough innings this year so far, and to be honest I think it kind of hit a tipping point for all of us,” said Bichette. “We said enough is enough, we’re going to put our heads down and play ball.” -Toronto Blue Jays Shortstop, Bo Bichette on the Marlins series
Magic Number- (193):The Tampa Bay Rays pitching staff ranks second in the AL and third overall in Major League Baseball with 193 strikeouts. RHP Tyler Glasnow leads the staff with 27 strikeouts, followed by LHP Blake Snell (20) and RHP Charlie Morton (17).
Ty B’s Trends:Let’s look at some numbers that may be beneficial to the degenerates:
Since the start of the 2018 season, the Rays are 28-13 vs Toronto.
The Rays are 8-3 at home, but 4-5 on the road. The Blue Jays are 6-9, they’re also 6-9 when it comes to overs versus unders.
The overs are 2-0 at Sahlen Field after the Jays had 5-straight unders before their "Home" Opener. Both teams rank top-10 in the league with the lowest ERAs, but the Rays rank second in runs scored per game at 5.35.
First Pitch:
RHP Tanner Roark vs. RHP Trevor Richards:
The Blue Jays will turn to veteran Tanner Roark to stop the red-hot Rays. Roark struggled to gain command of the strike zone in his last outing. He allowed five walks over three innings in a loss to the Red Sox. In two starts this season, Roark is 1-1 with a 5.63 ERA and 6 strikeouts.
Trevor Richards is making his first start of the season. In three relief appearances this season, he has a 5.79 ERA in 9 1/3 innings. Will this be another high scoring, extra inning affair? First pitch is set for 6:37PM.
For live updates and breaking news follow @TrainwreckSprts on Twitter or check us out on Facebook.