Tampa Bay @ Toronto preview
Rogers Centre
Last Meeting ( Sep 1, 2012 ) Tampa Bay 5, Toronto 4
For as much as their offense has struggled in recent weeks, the Tampa Bay Rays might not need to muster many runs to salvage a split of their four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays. The reason? David Price usually doesn't need much support, especially against the Blue Jays. The left-hander will try to add to his American League-best 16 wins and help the Rays keep pace - they're 4 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East and 1 1/2 in back of Baltimore for the last wild-card spot.
The series has been about as tight as possible so far. After Toronto won the opener 2-0, the teams have split a pair of one-run games - and the potential tying run has been cut down at the plate for the final out in each contest. Price, who is 11-2 with a 2.26 ERA in 14 starts against Toronto, has won both his starts against the Blue Jays this season.
TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, Sun Sports, SN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH David Price (16-5, 2.53 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Ricky Romero (8-12, 5.50)
Price's Cy Young Award candidacy took a slight hit when he gave up six runs on 10 hits in four-plus innings Monday against the Rangers, leading to his first loss since June 13. The loss ended a string of 12 consecutive quality starts, all in which Price went at least seven innings.
Romero turned in a strong outing in his last start, allowing just two runs over seven innings against the Yankees - but a lack of run support resulted in his 11th straight loss. In fact, Romero has posted quality starts in five of his last seven outings, but he is still winless since June 22. Romero is 6-4 with a 3.49 ERA in 12 starts against the Rays.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rays picked up a rare one-run win Saturday. They have lost 11 of their last 13 one-run games and are 19-24 in one-run contests this season.
2. The Rays' active roster is a collective 28-for-147 (.190) against Romero.
3. No one on the Blue Jays' roster has batted over .300 against Price. The closest is utility man Mike McCoy, who is 5-for-17 (.294).