Blue Jays at Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays try for their 11th consecutive series victory over the Toronto Blue Jays when the AL East rivals meet at Tropicana Field on Wednesday afternoon in the finale of their three-game set. Tampa Bay also has dominated Toronto at home, winning each of the previous 14 series played in the Sunshine State. The Rays improved to 5-2 against the Blue Jays this season with an 8-5 triumph on Tuesday. They have won 17 of the last 25 contests between the clubs.
Tampa Bay's B.J. Upton may have found his power stroke as he has homered in each of the first two games of the series after going 13 contests without a blast. Toronto slugger Jose Bautista continues to heat up as he has collected 10 RBIs over his last eight games while raising his batting average from .194 to .225.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, SN (Toronto), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Ricky Romero (5-1, 3.64 ERA) vs. Rays RH James Shields (6-2, 3.77 ERA)
Romero rebounded nicely from his first loss of the season, allowing one run and three hits over six innings in a triumph over the New York Mets on Friday. The 27-year-old has battled control problems of late, however, issuing at least four walks in each of his last three outings. Romero improved to 6-4 lifetime against the Rays on April 17, when he yielded three runs over six innings in a 7-3 victory at home.
Shields has lost two of his last three starts, including a defeat against Atlanta on Friday in which he allowed four runs and seven hits over six innings. The veteran, who is hoping to become the first seven-game winner in the majors, has surrendered four or more runs in four of his last five outings but is 3-2 during that stretch. Shields is 9-5 with a 3.60 ERA, two complete games and one shutout in 18 career starts against the Blue Jays.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay 1B Carlos Pena responded favorably to batting in the leadoff spot Tuesday, going 2-for-5 with a three-run homer.
2. Shields went 3-0 with a 0.71 ERA in three starts against the Blue Jays last season.
3. Toronto 2B Kelly Johnson has reached safely in 17 straight games.