Toronto @ Tampa Bay preview
Tropicana Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2012 ) Toronto 1, Tampa Bay 12
The Tampa Bay Rays' playoff hopes are on their last leg, but they won't go quietly if their bats remain hot. Tampa Bay has scored 32 runs during a three-game win streak as it looks to take down the visiting Toronto Blue Jays for the second straight contest. The Rays are 4 1/2 games behind Oakland for the second American League wild card, and they'll try to gain ground by continuing their strong play against Toronto. Tampa Bay has won 12 of 16 meetings this season, including six straight at Tropicana Field.
The Blue Jays are trying to claw their way out of the AL East cellar by catching the Boston Red Sox, and they hope right-hander Brandon Morrow can help the cause. Morrow was an early bright spot for Toronto before spending more than two months on the disabled list. He is 5-5 with a 3.31 ERA in 15 games (11 starts) against the Rays, including a 2-1 mark and a 1.73 ERA at Tropicana Field. The Rays will counter with left-hander Matt Moore, who is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in three starts against Toronto, all this season.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SN-1, Sun Sports
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Brandon Morrow (8-6, 2.98 ERA) vs. Rays LH Matt Moore (10-11, 3.88)
Morrow has recorded three quality starts in five outings since coming off a long stint on the disabled list with an oblique injury. He has only one win during that stretch but it came against Tampa Bay, as he held the Rays to one run over 6 2/3 innings Aug. 31 in Toronto. Morrow threw six scoreless innings in his last outing against Boston but didn't factor in the decision.
Moore has struggled down the stretch, losing four straight starts. He is winless since Aug. 19 and has been awful in three September outings - allowing 14 runs (11 earned) in 13 1/3 innings. Moore's best outing during the winless streak came against Toronto, as he held the Blue Jays to two runs over six innings Aug. 30 in Toronto but still took the loss.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rays' pitching staff's 1,275 strikeouts are an American League record. They would have to average 11.73 strikeouts per game over their final 11 contests to pass the 2003 Chicago Cubs' major-league record of 1,404.
2. Blue Jays SS Yunel Escobar sat out Friday despite being eligible to return from his three-game suspension for having an anti-gay slur written in his eye black. Manager John Farrell told reporters he made the decision to hold Escobar out because the shortstop wasn't mentally ready to return.
3. Sean Rodriguez (5-for-14, 2 HR) and Desmond Jennings (5-for-11, 3 HR) are the only Rays who have enjoyed much success against Morrow.