MLB Game Preview - Tampa Bay at Toronto

Fri Jul 26, 2019 7:07 PM EDT

After a fast start to the season, the Tampa Bay Rays will try to reverse a downward spiral when they visit the Toronto Blue Jays for a three-game series that starts Friday night.

The Rays opened the season 14-4 but are 44-43 since after avoiding a sweep by the Boston Red Sox with a 3-2 home victory Wednesday in the finale of a three-game series. Despite the victory, Tampa Bay is in a 2-7 drought.

The Rays' fast start included winning two of three from April 12-14 in Toronto. The Blue Jays emerged from the series 5-11. The Rays swept a three-game series from the Blue Jays from May 27-29 at Tropicana Field.

"We've talked about, 'Let's find a way to make the big pitch, get the big hit and make the big play,'" Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "We did those things (Wednesday), and we came out with a much-needed win."

The Rays are 24-23 within their own division, the American League East, but are 13-5 combined against Toronto and the Baltimore Orioles.

"That was a big win," Rays second baseman Joey Wendle said after hitting an RBI single Wednesday against Boston. "If (the Red Sox) come in and sweep us at home, that's not what you're looking for at this time of the year, so to come out with a win in the last game was big for us."

The Blue Jays, meanwhile, lost two of three to the Indians in Toronto earlier this week. Cleveland's Shane Bieber threw a one-hit shutout Wednesday in a 4-0 victory.

As the Rays pursue an American League wild-card spot, the Blue Jays are rebuilding. Most of the interest around Toronto involves possible trades the club might make before the July 31 deadline.

Toronto's biggest trade chip is right-hander Marcus Stroman, who took the loss Wednesday despite holding the Indians to one run in seven innings. It could have been his last home start as a Blue Jay.

"I feel like I've pitched pretty well in the best division in baseball," Stroman said after the game Wednesday. "There's been no willingness from the front office to sign me, so I've just come to terms with it, and I'm ready to dominate, wherever that may be, absolutely dominate."

Both teams had Thursday off.

Right-hander Jacob Waguespack (1-0, 5.68 ERA) will start Friday for the Blue Jays while the Rays will use right-hander Diego Castillo (1-6, 3.96) as their opener.

Waguespack will be making his third career major league start. He made his major league debut May 27 at Tampa Bay and allowed three runs (two earned), three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in four innings of relief.

The prospect of trading Stroman has left the Blue Jays' rotation plans in flux.

"There are so many things that can happen right now, that's why I don't want to go further than the day off (Thursday)," Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said this week in discussing his rotation.

However, he added that left-hander Ryan Borucki would start on Saturday.

Confusion was added to the Rays' rotation plans when the team announced that reigning Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, scheduled to start in Toronto on Saturday, will have elbow surgery to remove a loose body in his left elbow. He is slated to miss about four weeks.

Castillo has pitched 38 2/3 innings in 38 appearances. This will be the first time he opens this season after doing so 11 times in 2018.

The Blue Jays are 19-32 at home while the Rays are 30-21 on the road.

--Field Level Media