Blue Jays at Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are one of the hottest teams in the American League with wins in six straight games and are trying to take advantage of a weak spot in the schedule while they advance toward a playoff spot. The Rays will try to pick on another sub-.500 team when they host the Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of a three-game series on Monday.
Tampa Bay began a stretch of 21 straight games against teams with losing records with a two-game sweep of the Miami Marlins over the weekend, capped by a 7-2 victory on Sunday that marked the seventh straight game in which the team scored at least six runs. "It's been real fun," Rays infielder Michael Brosseau, who homered among three hits on Sunday, told reporters. "Seems like everybody is clicking, and everybody is putting up good ABs up there at the plate. When our offense is clicking like that and our pitching is what it's been all year, we're a tough team to beat." The Blue Jays, who lost two of three at home to Tampa Bay last week, were winners of five straight before dropping two games at the Baltimore Orioles over the weekend. The Rays will send staff ace Charlie Morton to the mound on Monday while Toronto kicks off the series with rookie right-hander Jacob Waguespack.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet 1 (Toronto), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Jacob Waguespack (2-1, 4.80 ERA) vs. Rays RH Charlie Morton (12-3, 2.78)
Waguespack posted his first quality start last time out, holding the Kansas City Royals to one run and three hits over a season-high six innings to earn the win. The 25-year-old rookie surrendered three or fewer runs in five of his six outings and owns 24 strikeouts in 30 total innings. Waguespack made his major league debut at Tampa Bay on May 27 and allowed three runs - two earned - and three hits over four innings in relief.
Morton was lifted after 85 pitches in 4 2/3 innings at Boston on Tuesday and ended up charged with four runs on seven hits and two walks without factoring in the decision. The New Jersey native is second in the AL in ERA but posted a quality start in two of his last five outings. Morton is seeing Toronto for the first time since April 14, when he surrendered one run on four hits and three walks over 4 2/3 innings without earning a decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rays RHP Yonny Chirinos was forced from his start after five innings on Sunday due to finger inflammation.
2. Toronto rookie SS Bo Bichette hit safely in each of his first seven major league games and posted an extra-base hit in four straight.
3. Tampa Bay 1B Jesus Aguilar is 4-for-7 with a home run and four runs scored in three games since joining the team.