Rays at Blue Jays
Travis d’Arnaud was cast off by two organizations earlier this season, but he has found a home in the middle of the Tampa Bay Rays’ lineup and hopes to continue his hot streak in the second of a three-game series at the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. The New York Mets released d’Arnaud and the Los Angeles Dodgers traded him to the Rays, who have received 11 homers and 35 RBIs from the former first-round pick in 47 games after a two-run single in Friday’s 3-1 win.
“I don’t know where we’d be (without him),” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash told reporters of d’Arnaud, who has nine RBIs in his last five games and 18 this month. “He just picks us up, it seems, every night or every other night he’s coming up with a big hit and he’s doing it with guys on base, which has not been our strength. He seems to have a knack for it and feels comfortable in the box. Now we’re hoping that permeates through the rest of the lineup.” The Rays have won six of the first seven in the season series and will send right-hander Andrew Kittredge to the mound to open the game on Saturday afternoon, while the Blue Jays counter with lefty Ryan Borucki, who makes his second start in the majors this year. Toronto has dropped four of its last five games after managing just four hits in the series opener and going 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position - falling to 19-33 at home in 2019. Freddy Galvis had the only RBI with a double in the loss for the Blue Jays, while rookie Vladimir Guerrero Jr. struck out twice and went 0-for-3 after going 9-for-20 in his previous six games.
TV: 3:07 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Andrew Kittredge (1-0, 2.55 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Ryan Borucki (0-1, 3.86)
Kittredge takes on the opener role for the second time this season after striking out three and giving up two hits over two scoreless innings at Oakland in the other start on June 21. The 29-year-old has allowed four runs over 5 2/3 innings in his last five appearances after eight straight scoreless outings. Left-hander Jalen Beeks is likely to follow Kittredge after yielding eight runs over 3 2/3 innings in a start against Boston on Monday for his first loss in 11 decisions with the Rays.
Borucki suffered an elbow injury during spring training and was finally able to return to the rotation Monday, permitting four runs (two earned) on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings in a loss to Cleveland. The 25-year-old Illinois native struck out three and walked four while throwing 94 pitches in his 2019 debut after going 4-6 with a 3.87 ERA in 17 starts last year. Austin Meadows had a homer last season against Borucki, who was 0-3 with a 3.66 ERA in three starts against the Rays in 2018.
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto’s rookies lead the majors with 258 hits and 44 homers combined.
2. The Rays recalled C Michael Perez from Triple-A Durham after placing LHP Blake Snell (elbow) on the injured list.
3. Blue Jays rookie 2B Cavan Biggio is hitless in his last 17 at-bats and C Danny Jansen is in a 0-for-14 slump.