The last road series of the season, in that old house of horrors in Tampa.
The Rays' chances of catching the Orioles for the division lead are not completely defunct. They'll need help from Cleveland, or Washington, or Boston, but until that help fails to arrive the Rays still have something to play for.
The Story So Far
The Rays had begun the season by winning each of their first 13 games. Then they came to Toronto, and Jose Berrios drew a line, right there.
Friday 14 Apr: Tampa Bay 3 Toronto 6 - The Jays broke this one open in the fifth inning - ahead 2-1, they loaded the bases against Rasmussen. Colin Poche came out of the bullpen and promptly walked the first two batters he saw.
Saturday 15 Apr: Tampa Bay 2 Toronto 5 - The Rays lose again, as Yusei Kikuchi struck out nine and allowed just a single run in six innings. A couple of two-out hits from Merrifield and Jansen broke up a 1-1 tie. Romano loaded the bases in the ninth, but retired Diaz and Franco to escape.
Sunday 16 Apr: Tampa Bay 8 Toronto 1 - The first four batters reached against Alek Manoah (a HBP, a couple of walks, a single) and three of them scored. Four straight hits in the fifth inning, the big blow being Bethancourt's three run homer, settled this one.
The Blue Jays made their other 2023 visit to the Trop in late May, for a four game set that did not go all that well.
Monday 22 May: Toronto 4 Tampa Bay 6 - The Rays scored their first run in the second on a Guerrero error, which prolonged the inning just long enough for Bethancourt to follow with a two-run homer. Arozarena and Raley would later add solo shots against Bassitt. The Jays brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but Fairbanks closed it out.
Tuesday 23 May: Toronto 20 Tampa Bay 1 - Jose Berrios was the happy beneficiary of a truly excessive amount of run support, although half of it came against position players in the final two innings. The Jays abused Tampa Bay for 27 hits, and 16 of them came against actual pitchers.
Wednesday 24 May: Toronto 3 Tampa Bay 7 - Shane McClanahan was his usual self, running his record to 8-0 with seven very strong innings. Raley and Siri reached Kikuchi for solo homers in the second, which was more than enough for McClanahan on this day.
Thursday 25 May: Toronto 3 Tampa Bay 6 - Alek Manoah was - how shall we put this - "non-competitive," walking five and allowing five runs in three innings. Zach Eflin didn't strike out anybody all evening, but he allowed just a single run in seven innings.
Matchups!
Friday 22 Sept - Bassitt (14-8, 3.78) vs Glasnow (9-6, 3.53)
Saturday 23 Sept - Ryu (3-3, 2.62) vs Littell (3-6, 3.94)
Sunday 24 Sept - Kikuchi (10-6, 3.74) vs Bradley (5-7, 5.36)
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