Blue Jays at Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays seek their sixth consecutive home win when they host the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday for the second of three games between the American League East foes. The Rays returned from a 5-3 road trip to defeat the Blue Jays 6-2 in Friday's series opener, utilizing home runs by Johnny Field and Brad Miller to back a solid team pitching effort.
Rookie Ryan Yarbrough tossed five scoreless innings of relief as Tampa Bay cruised through its latest "bullpen day" with a combined four-hitter. Curtis Granderson doubled and scored to get the Blue Jays going in the top of the first inning before leaving with hamstring tightness, an injury that will require a re-evaluation Saturday. Toronto fell for the third time in its last four games and it has allowed an average of 8.5 runs during the 1-3 swoon. The Blue Jays will try to get back into the win column behind right-hander Aaron Sanchez, who opposes Jake Faria for Tampa Bay.
TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet 360 (Toronto), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Aaron Sanchez (2-2, 4.06 ERA) vs. Rays RH Jake Faria (2-1, 4.60)
Sanchez had a string of four straight quality starts halted at Minnesota on Monday, when he allowed four runs in six innings while picking up the win. The 25-year-old, who entered Friday's action leading the American League with six hit batters, dominated the Rays in Tampa Bay through seven innings last April and owns a 1.24 ERA in 13 career encounters (five starts). That includes 24 2/3 innings and only two runs allowed at Tropicana Field.
Faria bounced back from a rocky outing two turns ago to stifle the Detroit Tigers through eight scoreless innings on Monday. He limited the Tigers to three hits and has allowed only 14 in 23 2/3 frames over a span of four starts. Josh Donaldson is 3-for-5 against the 24-year-old Faria, who is 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA in two career starts versus Toronto.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rays C Wilson Ramos has hit safely in 12 straight games.
2. Field is 6-for-14 with two homers and two doubles over his last four games.
3. Blue Jays UTIL Steve Pearce was placed on the 10-day disabled list with an oblique strain.