Tampa Bay @ Toronto preview
Rogers Centre
Last Meeting ( May 31, 2010 ) Tampa Bay 2, Toronto 3
The Toronto Blue Jays were on the wrong end of a lopsided pitching matchup Monday, but still came out with the win.
They'll try to do the same Tuesday against a guy who has yet to lose this season.
Jeff Niemann looks for his sixth consecutive victory as he leads the Tampa Bay Rays into the second of a three-game series against the streaking Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. Toronto brings a five-game winning streak into the contest, and are coming off a magnificent May, going 19-10 in the month while belting a franchise-record 54 homers.
They'll open a new month against a hurler who as hot as they come. Niemann (5-0) has won four of his last five starts, and the Rays are 8-2 in games he pitches.
Niemann's last start was his best of the season, as he allowed just three hits over eight innings in a 5-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox. The 6-foot-9, 260-pounder has been a huge part of Tampa Bay's road success this season, going 4-0 with a 2.29 ERA away from the Sunshine State.
A night earlier, Tampa Bay had a significant pitching advantage but still lost the series opener, 3-2. Matt Garza was tagged for three runs on 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings, while erratic opponent Brandon Morrow stymied the Rays' lineup, holding them hitless until there were two outs in the sixth frame.
Toronto went up 3-0 on an Adam Lind two-run homer and an RBI single from Aaron Hill, then held on for the win after Tampa Bay responded with two runs in the eighth.
The Blue Jays turn to veteran left-hander Brian Tallet (1-1) for Tuesday's contest. Tallet hasn't pitched since going on the 15-day disabled list April 18 with left forearm stiffness - and wasn't doing all that well before the injury.
He won his season opener but struggled in his next two starts, and comes into Tuesday's game sporting an ugly 6.11 ERA. He has allowed six home runs in just 17 2/3 innings this season - as many as Niemann has given up in 64 2/3 innings.
The Rays have owned Tallet in his career, saddling him with a 6.03 ERA in 17 games, including three starts. In his previous start against Tampa Bay on Aug. 18 of last season, he was torched for five runs in just 5 2/3 innings en route to an 8-3 loss.
Tampa Bay could use a similar offensive outburst Tuesday, having lost two straight to see their lead in the AL East shrink to 2 1/2 games over the New York Yankees. The Blue Jays are still in the hunt, just 3 1/2 back.