Blue Jays at Rays
The Toronto Blue Jays will carry their blistering-hot bats into the Sunshine State on Monday when they open a three-game series against the reeling Tampa Bay Rays (29-35), who have dropped nine of their last 10. The Blue Jays (30-35) amassed 27 runs and 56 hits en route to a four-game sweep of Baltimore, highlighted by a 13-3 shellacking on Sunday.
Curtis Granderson launched a three-run homer to highlight his four-hit, career-best six-RBI performance on Sunday for Toronto, which went deep four times and had a season-high 19 hits. Teoscar Hernandez also homered in that contest, but went just 2-for-11 with four strikeouts as the Blue Jays dropped two of three to the Rays last month. Tampa Bay hasn't had much for which to crow of late, with Johnny Field being thrown out at the plate on what manager Kevin Cash deemed an "over-aggressive" play for the final out in Sunday's 5-4 setback against surging Seattle. "The losses are piling up," Cash told reporters. "We can play better than what we've done the past 10 days."
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, TVA, Sportsnet (Toronto), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Sam Gaviglio (2-1, 2.51 ERA) vs. Rays LH Ryan Yarbrough (4-2, 3.68)
Gaviglio was masterful in his last outing, scattering three hits over seven scoreless frames in what resulted in a no-decision after the New York Yankees recorded a 3-0 triumph in 13 innings. The 28-year-old kept the Rays in check in his lone career encounter, picking up the win while pitching for Seattle after permitting one run on four hits across five frames. Gaviglio didn't walk a batter in that meeting and has only issued seven free passes in 28 2/3 innings this season.
Yarbrough is being given the nod after Monday's scheduled starter Ryne Stanek tossed 24 pitches in relief against the Mariners in the finale. The 26-year-old has worked at least five innings in each of his last seven outings, although he yielded five runs on 10 hits over 5 1/3 frames of a no-decision at Washington on Wednesday. Yarbrough handcuffed Toronto in his last encounter, picking up the win after allowing just one hit while striking out four over five innings of a 6-2 triumph on May 4.
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto OF Randal Grichuk went 8-for-16 with two homers and two doubles to go along with five RBIs and as many runs scored in his last four games.
2. Tampa Bay 1B C.J. Cron has three hits - all homers - in his last 24 at-bats.
3. Blue Jays top prospect 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be sidelined for at least the next four weeks after he was diagnosed with a strained patellar tendon in his left knee.