The visiting Tampa Bay Rays purpose to go two video games above .500 for the primary time since Could 20 after they face the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday evening.
The Rays recorded a 4-2 win within the opener of the three-game collection in opposition to Toronto on Tuesday evening. Brandon Lowe belted a two-run homer for Tampa Bay, which holds a 5-3 edge within the season collection.
The Rays had been at .500 for the twenty third time this season, a membership document, after a 9-1 loss to the New York Yankees on Monday. The earlier workforce document was 22 set in 2017. They final had been two video games above .500 after they entered play at 25-23.
The Rays improved to 3-2 on their seven-game street journey. Toronto is 1-3 to begin a nine-game homestand.
The Blue Jays are turning to right-hander Yariel Rodriguez (1-3, 3.78 ERA) in a bid to even the collection.
The Rays are scheduled to begin right-hander Zach Eflin (5-7, 4.14), who’s 2-3 with a 6.35 ERA in seven video games (six begins) in opposition to the Blue Jays.
Eflin has confronted Toronto twice this season. He didn’t issue into the choice in his Could 18 begin at Toronto when he allowed 4 runs and 9 hits in six innings. He took the loss at St. Petersburg, Fla., on March 28, when he yielded six runs and 6 hits — together with three homers — in 5 2/3 innings.
Proper-hander Ryan Pepiot (proper knee an infection) was slated to begin for Tampa Bay on Tuesday however is on the injured listing after coming into a hospital in New York, the place the Rays break up a four-game collection with the Yankees. He was launched from hospital on Monday.
“He is doing effectively,” Rays supervisor Kevin Money stated. “I noticed an image of (his knee), and it is nonetheless swollen, however he is doing significantly better.”
Pepiot is eligible to be reinstated Aug. 3, and Money stated he ought to have the ability to get again to throwing quickly.
In his absence, the Rays opened with Shawn Armstrong and adopted with Tyler Alexander. They mixed to scatter 4 hits and struck out eight over 5 scoreless innings. Alexander was recalled from Triple-A Durham for the outing and reliever Tyler Zuber was demoted.
The Rays claimed reliever Joel Kuhnel off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday.
Money stated earlier than the sport on Tuesday that there nonetheless was “no replace” on the standing of Yandy Diaz (private), who will not be with the workforce.
Residence runs by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Justin Turner supplied the offense for Toronto on Tuesday. Turner added two singles.
Guerrero leads the workforce with 17 residence runs, together with 4 in his previous six video games.
“It is enjoyable to look at him proper now,” Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider stated. “He is harmful each single pitch.”
Over his previous 24 video games, Guerrero is batting .340 (32-for-94) with 9 doubles, 9 homers and 29 RBIs.
Turner continued to hit effectively in opposition to American League East rivals. He’s batting .318 (27-for-85) with six doubles, three residence runs and 12 RBIs in 25 video games in opposition to them.
Infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa (sprained left knee) took batting observe on Tuesday.
“It has been means sooner than I anticipated,” Kiner-Falefa stated. “I want I might have been enjoying all through that stretch on the West Coast and simply serving to the workforce put ourselves in a greater scenario. On the similar time, I really feel like it is a good time for these younger guys to study and get higher.”
–Discipline Stage Media
