罢丑别听Blue Jays聽head out on their last road trip of the year, starting with a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. Here’s what you need to know.
色色啦’s magic number to clinch a playoff berth is five over the Guardians and down to nine to win the American League East over the Yankees.
Series preview
The Rays have lived up to their reputation as a constant thorn in the Jays’ side this season, having beaten them in five of their first six meetings. This is the first of two series the teams will play over the final fortnight, with the Rays in 色色啦 for a three-game set to wrap up the regular season Sept. 26-28.
The last time the Jays went to Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the New York Yankees’ spring training facility and the Rays’ temporary home in the wake of hurricane damage done to Tropicana Field last fall, the Rays swept them rather emphatically.
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The Jays scored just two runs over a three-game series in the last week of May that ended with a 13-0 pounding that was likely the nadir of their season. Since then, the Jays have had the best offence in the major leagues. They’re coming off a 5-1 homestand against the Houston Astros and Baltimore Orioles, are 8-4 in September and could clinch a playoff spot as early as Wednesday.
The series opens the final homestand of the season for the Rays, who have gone 38-36 in the refurbished A-ball stadium despite losing 14 of 19 at home at one point. They’re coming off a 2-4 road trip in Chicago, dropping two of three to both the Cubs and White Sox.
The Rays are led by 21-year-old third baseman Junior Caminero, who blasted his 44th home run of the season in Sunday’s 4-3 loss to the Cubs. He’s only two round-trippers away from Tampa Bay’s club record of 46, set by Carlos Pe帽a in 2007.
When he is officially added for Monday’s road series opener against the Rays, the Jays will
Game time, TV, probable pitchers
Mon. Sept. 15, 7:35 p.m. on Sportsnet:聽RH Trey Yesavage (MLB debut) vs. TBA
Tues. Sept. 16, 7:35 p.m. on Sportsnet:聽RH Jos茅 B茅rr铆os (9-5, 3.99) vs. RH Ryan Pepiot (11-10, 3.59)
Wed. Sept. 17, 7:05 p.m. on Sportsnet:聽RH Kevin Gausman (10-10, 3.44) vs LH Ian Seymour (3-2, 3.16)
Thurs. Sept. 18, 1:10 p.m. on Sportsnet:聽RH Chris Bassitt (11-8, 3.90) vs. RH Shane Baz (9-12, 5.15)
Looking ahead
The Jays finish their last regular-season road series in Kansas City against the Royals starting Friday. The Royals are out of the playoff picture and are at .500 after Sunday’s games.
Mike Wilner is a 色色啦-based baseball columnist for the Star
and host of the baseball podcast 鈥淒eep Left Field.鈥 Follow him on
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