Rays at Blue Jays
At the outset of the season, the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays were expected to be in the
mix for a playoff spot. One of the
teams is close to living up to its preseason expectations, while the
other faces a long and difficult offseason as the Rays visit the Blue
Jays on Friday in the opener of their final regular-season series. While
Tampa Bay remains in the hunt for an American League wild card berth,
Toronto has locked up last place in the AL East.
Tampa Bay comes
into the series on a seven-game winning streak and can secure a
postseason spot with any combination of victories or Texas losses
equaling two. Toronto has long been out of the playoff hunt despite
retooling its lineup and rotation over the winter. The Rays send Jeremy
Hellickson to the mound in Friday's opener, while the Blue Jays counter
with knuckleball specialist R.A. Dickey.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, SUN (Tampa Bay), RSN (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Jeremy Hellickson (12-9, 5.16 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH R.A. Dickey (13-13, 4.27)
Hellickson
has likely pitched himself out of contention for a spot in the Rays'
playoff rotation. The 26-year-old is 4-6 with
a 6.27 ERA in 11 starts and one relief appearance since the All-Star
break, surrendering nine home runs over 51 2/3 innings while allowing
opposing hitters to bat .306 over that stretch. Hellickson has fared
well against Toronto in his career, boasting a 5-2 record with a 2.90
ERA over 11 starts.
Dickey's first season with the Blue Jays has been a
roller-coaster ride during which the defending National League Cy Young
Award winner often alternated sensational starts with dud outings. Dickey is
coming off a fairly rough encounter last time out, as he surrendered five runs
on six hits over eight innings while striking out 11 in a 5-2 loss to
the Boston Red Sox. The 38-year-old is 3-3 with a 4.12
ERA in 12 career appearances versus the Rays.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rays OF Desmond Jennings has just one hit - a single - with four strikeouts in 12 at-bats against Dickey this season.
2. Tampa Bay has outscored opponents 37-13 during its winning streak.
3. The Rays lead the season series 10-6.