Toronto @ Tampa Bay preview
Tropicana Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 22, 2012 ) Toronto 5, Tampa Bay 11
With their playoff hopes dwindling, the Tampa Bay Rays have responded with the most productive four-game stretch at the plate in franchise history. They'll hope to continue to flex their muscles on Sunday when they go for a three-game sweep of the visiting Toronto Blue Jays. The Rays have scored 43 runs during a four-game winning streak - including 23 in the first two games of the series. They have pulled within 3 1/2 games of Oakland for the second American League wild card.
The challenge of cooling the Rays' red-hot bats falls to 2009 first-round draft pick Chad Jenkins, who will make his first major-league start for the Blue Jays. Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson could benefit from Tampa Bay's hot hitting. The Rays, who rank 10th in the American League in runs scored, have averaged just 3.26 runs in Hellickson's outings and scored 13 runs during his five-start winless streak. Tampa Bay has won 13 of 17 meetings with Toronto this season, including seven straight at Tropicana Field.
TV: 1:40 p.m. ET, SN-1, Sun Sports
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Chad Jenkins (0-1, 4.91 ERA) vs. Rays RH Jeremy Hellickson (8-10, 3.31)
Jenkins has made 10 relief appearances since joining the Blue Jays in August. He was a starter at Double-A New Hampshire for most of the year, going 5-9 with a 4.96 ERA. Jenkins made his major-league debut against the Rays on Aug. 7, pitching three scoreless innings, and he faced them again Sept. 2, allowing two runs over five innings of relief work.
Hellickson is winless in five starts since Aug 20 after he lasted just four innings and allowed three runs in a no-decision against Boston. Hellickson has faced Toronto three times this year and is 1-2. He allowed two runs over six innings in the last meeting, taking the loss in a 2-1 pitchers' duel. Hellickson is 2-2 with a 3.41 ERA in five starts against the Blue Jays.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rays have hit nine home runs during their winning streak, including four Saturday. Jose Molina and B.J. Upton have each homered twice during the stretch.
2. Jenkins will be the Blue Jays' 12th different starting pitcher this season and the seventh to be used in both starting and relief roles.
3. With a win Sunday, the Rays would match their best finish ever in the season series with Toronto, tying their 14-4 mark in 2009.