Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

MLB

Rays-Blue Jays preview

By FoxSports
Published | Updated

TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays have both changed somewhat since the teams last met.

That was May 16-18 when the Rays swept a three-game series from the Jays at Rogers Centre.

This time around, the Rays are trying Brad Miller at first base after he played 86 games this season at shortstop and the Blue Jays are using a six-man starting rotation.

Shifting Miller from shortstop to first base will make room for Matt Duffy, who was acquired in a trade with the San Francisco Giants. Duffy will be the shortstop when he comes off the disabled list, possibly Friday.

There was nothing wrong with Miller's bat. He was 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs in the 7-5 loss to the Blue Jays while making his debut at first base.

"He looked very comfortable over there," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Brad is putting together a tremendous season for us."

With the Rays out of playoff contention, he will be given a crash course at the position to see if it is worth pursuing next season.

He will presumably be there again Tuesday when the teams meeting in the second game of the two-game series with Rays left-hander Drew Smyly (3-11, 5.14 ERA) facing Blue Jays right-hander Marco Estrada (7-4, 2.92 ERA)

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are pursuing the playoffs and are featuring a six-man rotation for now.

The reasoning is to keep both Aaron Sanchez and Francisco Liriano starting.

The thought had been to put Sanchez in the bullpen to limit his innings after the acquisition of Liriano in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates last week. Sanchez has been so successful in his first full season as a major league starter that his innings are beginning to pile up.

Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker said he is no advocate of a six-man rotation, especially earlier in the season, but he feels that at this time, with this staff, it can serve a purpose. "For the time being, it works right now," he said.

It will give the starters a breather and adjustments can be made as the season continues.

The Blue Jays starters this season so far have done better on four days' rest, going 30-9 with a 2.91 earned-run average in 56 starts on regular rest.

On five days' of rest, they are 10-12 with a 4.64 ERA in 33 starts.

Estrada has done better this season on his regular four days' rest, going 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA. On five days' rest, he is 2-3 with a 4.01 ERA.

This is his first outing against Tampa Bay this season but he has been successful against them in the past. He is 1-1 with 0.86 ERA against the Rays in seven career outings, including three starts. He is 3-3 with a 2.68 ERA in 10 starts at Rogers Centre this season.

Smyly has had success against the Blue Jays, going 2-2 with a 2.65 ERA in eight career outings against the Blue Jays, including five starts. He is 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA in four appearances, including two starts, at Roger Centre. In three starts against Toronto this season, he is 1-2 with a 4.08 ERA.

Being American League East rivals, there are few secrets between the teams.

"We've seen each other so many times it's just kind of a cat-and-mouse game for now," said Rays starter Jake Odorizzi, who allowed eight hits and four runs Monday and did not factor in the decision.