Blue Jays at Rays
The Toronto Blue Jays can set a franchise record with their 12th consecutive victory when they open a three-game series against the host Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. Toronto pounded the Baltimore Orioles 13-5 on Sunday to match the club mark shared by the 1987 and 1998 squads and is suddenly just five games behind first-place Boston in the American League East. Tampa Bay also is five games out after beating the New York Yankees on Sunday.
Toronto slugger Edwin Encarnacion homered and recorded four RBIs in Sunday’s victory to raise his season totals to 21 and 63, respectively. The Blue Jays were 10 games below .500 on June 4 and since have won 14-of-16 contests to raise their record to 38-36. Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria is 14-for-28 with two homers, seven doubles and 10 RBIs in seven games against Toronto this season.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Esmil Rogers (3-2, 3.14 ERA) vs. Rays RH Jeremy Hellickson (5-3, 5.50)
Rogers has put together back-to-back strong outings against Texas and Colorado. He has allowed four runs (three earned) and nine hits in 13 2/3 innings during the stretch while walking only two. Rogers is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in seven career relief appearances against Tampa Bay.
Hellickson has won three of his last four starts, giving up three or fewer runs in each of the victories. He received no-decisions in each of his two outings against Toronto this season while posting a 3.46 ERA over 13 innings. Hellickson is 3-2 with a 3.04 ERA in eight career starts vs. the Blue Jays.
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto 1B Adam Lind is batting .380 with six homers and 19 RBIs in June.
2. Rays 1B James Loney had three hits against New York on Sunday for his eighth three-hit effort of the season but the first since May 5.
3. Blue Jays OF Jose Bautista is 7-for-15 with two homers against Hellickson.