Blue Jays at Rays
Now with two games left before an extended stretch of home games, Tampa Bay looks to build momentum when Toronto visits for a two-game set. The Rays came into the weekend tied for first in the AL East with Baltimore, but dropped two of three. The Blue Jays split a four-game series with woeful Minnesota this weekend, dropping three behind the Orioles in the East.
After the two games in Toronto, the Rays play 14 of their next 17 at Tropicana Field, ending with a three-game series against Baltimore on June 1-3. Tampa Bay nearly blew a 7-1 lead Sunday, holding on for a 9-8 victory. Toronto became the first team in nearly a month to lose twice in three days to the Twins, but struggling slugger Jose Bautista homered three times in two games and briefly got his average to .200 on Sunday.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), SN (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tampa Bay RH Jeff Niemann (2-3, 3.48 ERA) vs. Toronto RH Brandon Morrow (4-1, 2.27 ERA).
Niemann has rebounded from losing his first two starts, going 2-1 since and allowing more than two earned runs just once in his past five starts. Niemann gave up six hits and one earned run in seven innings Wednesday at New York. Niemann is holding opponents to a .220 batting average.
Morrow also has pitched very well of late, winning his last four starts. In his past three outings, Morrow has struck out 27 hitters in 21 innings, allowing just one earned run.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay’s Carlos Pena snapped a 3-for-37 skid with a third-inning double Sunday. Pena finished 2-for-5 to raise his average to .232.
2. Toronto first baseman Adam Lind did not start Sunday. Lind, who went 0-for-1 as a pinch-hitter, is hitting .189 with three homers and 11 RBIs.
3. The Blue Jays open a week-long homestand in which Toronto will host the Rays, Yankees and Mets.