Field Level Media
01 Jul 2022, 14:55 GMT+10
After ending one streak, the visiting Tampa Bay Rays will be out to stop another on Friday afternoon against the Toronto Blue Jays in the second game of a five-game series.
The Rays played a team-record 14 consecutive games decided by one or two runs before losing 4-1 to the Blue Jays on Thursdayin the series opener. They were 5-9 during that stretch. The previous club mark of games decided by one or two runs was nine in 2007.
Tampa Bay also would like to end a three-game losing streak. The Rays will send out right-hander Corey Kluber (3-4, 3.45 ERA) on Friday to oppose Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios (5-4, 5.86).
In five career starts against Tampa Bay, Berrios is 0-3 with a 5.76 ERA.
Kluber is 2-4 with a 4.50 ERA in 10 career starts against the Blue Jays,
The Blue Jays and Rays are 2-2 in their season series so far, as Tampa Bay took two of three at home in mid-May.
The series should be a challenge for both pitching staffs. The five games are being played over four days with a doubleheader on Saturday. The Blue Jays then will open a seven-game road trip with a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics that starts on Monday.
"You have to go game by game," Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. "And not only the pitchers, the position players -- that's a lot of games, no days off and then go into Oakland with no days off and play there. We have to pay attention to everything, not just the pitching."
Toronto's Kevin Gausman will start one of the games of the doubleheader on Saturday. It is the right-hander's choice as to which game he pitches. Montoyo did not know who would start the other game.
The game on Thursday was the first of an 11-game road trip for the Rays. The trek continues with three games against the Boston Red Sox and ends with three against the Cincinnati Reds.
"We're going to have to come to play," Rays infielder Taylor Walls said. "It's going to be a dogfight. I think every series we are matched up with any AL East team is going to be that, so we've got to come ready. We will come ready. And we're looking forward to it."
The Rays hope to have outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (hip inflammation) back from the injured list on Friday. Right-hander Drew Rasmussen (hamstring strain) could return to the rotation this weekend.
Toronto's Teoscar Hernandez continued his success against the Rays on Thursday with a two-run home run, a double and a single. He has 18 career home runs against Tampa Bay, tied with his 18 against the Red Sox for his most against an opponent.
Santiago Espinal also had a two-run homer for the Blue Jays. He had not hit a long ball since June 6 against the Kansas City Royals, a drought of 21 games.
Isaac Paredes hit his 11th home run of the season Thursday for the Rays. Over his past eight games, he is batting .429 (12-for-28) with two doubles, six homers and 10 RBIs.
The Rays put left-hander Brooks Raley and right-hander Ryan Thompson on the restricted list on Thursday because they did not meet Canadian COVID-19 vaccination requirements. Right-handers Javy Guerra and Phoenix Sanders were added as replacements.
Tampa Bay also placed left-hander Jeffrey Springs on the family medical emergency list and recalled left-hander Ryan Yarbrough from Triple-A Durham. Yarbrough allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings on Thursday to take the loss.
--Field Level MediaGet a daily dose of Calgary Monitor news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Calgary Monitor.
More InformationOTTAWA, Canada: With Canada Post struggling to maintain operations amid labour unrest, rivals like FedEx and UPS are stepping in to...
New Delhi [India], July 13 (ANI): Devon Conway, Mitch Hay, Jimmy Neesham and Tim Robinson set to join the New Zealand T20I squad for...
New Delhi [India], July 13 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla...
New Delhi [India], July 13 (ANI): Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Deorao Nikam and former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla among four...
Kyiv [Ukraine], July 13 (ANI): As US President Donald Trump reaffirmed Washington's commitment to resuming weapons supply to Ukraine,...
(250713) -- TORONTO, July 13, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Modified vehicles are seen at the 2025 ImportFest in Toronto, Canada, on July 12, 2025....
OTTAWA, Canada: With Canada Post struggling to maintain operations amid labour unrest, rivals like FedEx and UPS are stepping in to...
(250713) -- TORONTO, July 13, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Deybi Flores (2nd L) of Toronto FC scores with a header during the 2025 Major League...
(Photo credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images) In his 51st career start, Garrett Crochet accomplished two feats in one dominant outing:...
(Photo credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images) All-Star Brent Rooker hit a tiebreaking two-run homer and drove in three runs overall to...
(Photo credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images) Rafael Navarro scored his team lead-tying eighth goal of the season and Djordje Mihailovic...
(Photo credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images) Idan Toklomati scored early and Kerwin Vargas tallied late as Charlotte FC came away with...