Rays at Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are still anchored at the bottom of the American League East but a win Tuesday over reeling Tampa Bay will pull them into a tie with the Rays for third place in the division. Toronto has won three in a row to move within 3 1/2 games of the second wild card as it continues a four-game series against the visiting Rays.
Josh Donaldson's two-run homer -- his second in as many days -- in the first inning was all the offense the Blue Jays needed to send sputtering Tampa Bay to its fourth consecutive loss. The starting rotation has allowed one run in three straight games to help Toronto win for the eighth time in 12 games this month. A change in venue did nothing to awaken the slumbering offense of the Rays, who have scored a total of 12 runs while dropping eight of their past 10 games. Tampa Bay left-hander Blake Snell again attempts to break into the win column as he opposes Marco Estrada, who has lost all three starts to the Rays this year.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, FSN Sun (Tampa Bay), Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Blake Snell (0-6, 4.69 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Marco Estrada (5-7, 4.85)
Snell is coming off perhaps his best start but had to settle for a no-decision despite limiting Cleveland to one run on four hits over 6 1/3 innings. It marked only the second time in nine starts that he permitted fewer than three runs. Snell surrendered a grand slam to Kendrys Morales in a loss to Toronto in his season debut and worked five innings of two-run ball at Toronto three weeks later.
Estrada finally put an end to a victory drought of nearly 2 1/2 months in his last start, blanking the New York Yankees on five hits over seven innings for his first win since May 27. He owns a bloated 10.05 ERA in the three outings against the Rays, giving up 14 runs and seven homers among 25 hits in 14 1/3 innings. Logan Morrison is 6-for-18 with three home runs and 10 RBIs against Estrada.
WALK-OFFS
1. Blue Jays RHP Roberto Osuna got the final four outs Monday to reach 30 saves for the second year in a row.
2. Rays LF Corey Dickerson is 3-for-38 over his last nine games.
3. Blue Jays LF Steve Pearce has reached base in 13 straight games.