Rays at Blue Jays
The Tampa Bay Rays, who appeared to be in a comfortable position for a playoff spot at the beginning of the month, are on the outside looking in as they begin a six-game road trip Friday with the first of three contests against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Rays dropped seven of their last nine outings, but averted a sweep at home against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday with a 3-2 victory to move within a game of the second wild card in the American League.
“That was a big win,” Tampa Bay infielder Joey Wendle, who is 7-for-19 with three doubles in his last seven contests, told reporters after Wednesday’s triumph. “If they come in and sweep us at home, that’s not what you’re looking for at this time of year.” The Rays announced Thursday that reigning American League Cy Young winner Blake Snell would undergo arthroscopic elbow surgery and will be lost for at least a month while reliever Diego Castillo gets the ball to start Friday’s contest. The Blue Jays will open the series with rookie Jacob Waguespack on the mound and are 5-8 since the All-Star break, but have dropped three of their last four while managing eight runs combined after scoring 19 times in their previous two games. Eric Sogard (8-for-27 in the last six games) had the only hit in Wednesday’s 4-0 loss to Cleveland while rookie slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a walk and is 9-for-20 with five RBIs in his last six contests for Toronto.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Diego Castillo (1-6, 3.96 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Jacon Waguespack (1-0, 5.68)
Castillo is slated to open a game for the first time this season after starting 11 times in 2018 when he gave up five runs over 17 innings with 21 strikeouts in that role. Ryan Yarbrough (8-3, 3.93 ERA) could be called upon to follow Castillo and the lefty is unbeaten in his last six appearances (3-0), permitting a total of three runs over 27 1/3 innings. Randal Grichuk is 2-for-5 with a double versus Yarbrough, who is 2-0 this year without allowing a run and 5-0 lifetime with a 2.08 ERA against Toronto.
Waguespack makes his third straight start after coming out of the bullpen in his first two major league appearances. The 25-year-old Ole Miss product allowed seven runs on 15 hits with nine strikeouts and three walks across 10 innings combined during a pair of no-decisions in his first two big league starts. Waguespack gave up three runs (two earned) and three hits with seven strikeouts over four frames in relief against Tampa Bay on May 27 in his major league debut.
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto LF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is 6-for-20 with a homer, four doubles and a team-high six RBIs in six games against the Rays in 2019.
2. Tampa Bay LF Tommy Pham, who has doubled against Waguespack, was 4-for-12 with two doubles, a homer and three RBIs in the series versus Boston.
3. The Blue Jays entered Thursday with the worst team batting average in the majors at .231.